Local

DUI suspect arrested for 100 mph reckless ride through St. Johns County

MUGSHOTS: Man accused of driving 100 mph, calling deputies 'piglets'

A 100 mph reckless ride through St. Johns County ended with a deputy nearly being hit by the driver.

Deputies say Mark Timothy Snyder, 59, was drunk when he nearly plowed into pedestrians outside a hospital and then a patrol car.

“We had no choice but to get him to stop,” Chuck Mulligan with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said.

Witnesses told deputies Snyder was spotted Tuesday night driving his Dodge Challenger more than 100 mph along U.S. 1 south around Old Moultrie Road and running red lights along the way.

“Instead of stopping, this individual, he began to drive even more erratically driving off the road striking objects,” Mulligan said.

Deputies say Snyder also drove through the Flagler Hospital parking lot, nearly striking several pedestrians and at one point “spun out” and drove directly towards a patrol car, causing the deputy to reverse in order to avoid a collision.

RELATED STORY | Police: Suspect in custody after car chase, crash in Clay County

Deputies say Snyder kept going, even driving down the wrong side of the road on Viscaya Boulevard and almost hitting another car.

“I was scared,” said Snyder’s neighbor Phyllis Cope, who also says she saw part of the chase.

Snyder eventually crashed into a culvert.  After being cuffed, he made verbal threats to deputies that included 
"I hope they kill you, you're going to pay, and (expletive) piglets"

“He had some choice words for us,” Mulligan quipped .

Action News Jax did some digging and this isn’t Snyder’s first run in with the law. He’s  been booked into the St. Johns County Jail six times since 2000 for various charges including two DUIs in 2012.

Now, Snyder is facing several more charges including DUI, leaving the scene of a crash and reckless driving.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY: This St. Augustine man is accused of driving waaaay too fast while intoxicated ... and having some choice words for the deputies who arrested him:

Posted by Action News Jax on Wednesday, July 25, 2018