2 arrested after custody dispute involving machete ends in chase: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. ( WKRG ) — Two people were arrested after a custody dispute involving a machete ended in a chase, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

ECSO shared on Facebook that Crystal Sorrell and Roderick Lewis were arrested after an incident that began on Sunday, Aug. 25, when deputies responded to a report of a custody dispute off of Empire Drive.

According to the post, when deputies arrived at the home where the dispute was reported, they spoke with victims who said Lewis had arrived at the home in a silver Jeep, exited the vehicle and threatened them with a machete before leaving. Deputies said they later located Lewis but said while attempting to detain him, he escaped by jumping through a glass window.

A warrant was then issued for aggravated battery with a weapon, resisting an officer without violence, and possession of marijuana, the ECSO post said.

Deputies said that the incident continued on Monday, Aug. 26, around 1 p.m. when deputies spotted a silver jeep driving eastbound on Michigan from Memphis Avenue. According to the post, Sorrell was driving, and Lewis was a passenger of the vehicle.

The post noted that a traffic stop was attempted but Sorell refused to pull over, continuing eastbound on Michigan and reaching speeds of 70 miles per hour. A police maneuver known as a PIT maneuver was used to stop the vehicle, but the post said Lewis fled on foot.

Both Lewis and Sorell were taken into custody.

Sorell was charged with fleeing and eluding and Lewis was taken to the hospital to be evaluated for injuries, the post said.

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