EUSTIS, Fla. — Eustis Police Department has released a report and body-worn camera footage from three officers involved in an early Saturday morning incident in which two officers were dragged by a fleeing suspect. One officer continues to recover while another has returned to work, according to EPD Chief Craig Capri.
Shakoi Donovan, 28, is facing numerous charges, including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing to elude, two counts of resisting an officer with violence, four counts of resisting an officer without violence and two counts of violation of probation. After eluding officers for about 14 hours, Donovan turned himself in Saturday afternoon.
According to a report, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Officer Kayla Maznaritz observed a vehicle traveling southbound on South Bay Street that “swerve[d] over the dotted yellow line, indicating the driver might possibly be under the influence of alcohol and/or narcotics.” Maznaritz stated the vehicle turned onto a side street “in an obvious attempt to evade my marked patrol vehicle.” She then called Senior Officer Chantal Murray and advised her the vehicle was evading her. Murray began responding to the area while the two remained on the phone.
Maznaritz reported seeing the vehicle run a stop sign at Morin Street and Golflinks Avenue before briefly losing sight of it. She spotted it again moments later speeding on Titcomb Avenue. The vehicle continued onto Chesley Avenue, northbound on South Bay Street and made a “last-minute, abrupt right turn” onto Golflinks Avenue, where Maznaritz initiated a traffic stop.
The vehicle did not immediately pull over and “instead proceeded to turn left onto Eustis Street and slow roll,” before stopping at South Eustis Street and Quayle Avenue.
As Murray approached the driver’s side and Maznaritz approached the passenger side, Maznaritz told Murray they “were going to immediately command the driver to exit the vehicle” because of the “erratic and careless driving patterns observed prior to the stop,” according to the report.
As the officers approached, smoke could be seen coming from under the hood of the vehicle. Bodycam footage shows Maznaritz telling the driver, later identified as Donovan, “That thing’s smoking. Turn that (expletive) off.”
Donovan told the officers the vehicle had an oil leak and a “starting problem” and that he could not turn it off. Despite repeated commands from Murray and Maznaritz, he refused to exit the vehicle.
Murray opened the driver’s door just as Officer Barry Coe arrived to assist. As Murray and Coe attempted to remove Donovan from the vehicle, a struggle erupted.
Murray: Step out. Step out!
Donovan: Alright. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
Coe: Get out the car now!
Donovan: Man, come on. Y’all doing too much.
Murray: No, no, no! (Expletive!)
Murray: (Expletive!)
Donovan: Stop, mama, please. Get off me.
Murray: No! (Expletive!)
Bodycam footage shows the struggle continuing before the vehicle accelerates away from the traffic stop. According to the report, Murray grabbed Donovan’s right arm while Coe grabbed his left arm. Donovan “was able to shake Officer Murray’s contact with him, shift the vehicle in drive, grab her by her department-issued body armor vest, and press the accelerator.”
Donovan fled the scene, throwing Coe approximately 10 to 15 feet from the traffic stop. Murray was found approximately one block away near the intersection of South Eustis Street and Taylor Avenue, “lying motionless.” Neither officer suffered serious injuries. Both were treated at AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares. Coe has since returned to work, Capri said, while Murray is expected back within a week.
Multiple agencies responded to assist, including Astatula Police Department, Mount Dora Police Department, Leesburg Police Department, Tavares Police Department, Umatilla Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
According to CAD notes obtained by Inside Lake, Donovan was positively identified as the suspect at 3:05 a.m., and a BOLO was issued for Donovan and the vehicle at 4:03 a.m. Officers searched extensively for more than two hours but were unable to locate him. Around 1 p.m., EPD posted a wanted flyer containing Donovan’s photo and information about his vehicle on its Facebook page. He turned himself in a few hours later.
Donovan remains held without bond in the Lake County Jail.
The post Eustis releases bodycam footage, report in officer-dragging incident appeared first on Inside Lake.
Source: Inside Lake
Published: 2026-08-04 00:35:00