ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — St. Johns County Sheriff’s deputies tracked a man wanted for theft using license plate reader cameras - and it all ended in harrowing arrest that police credited to compliant use of the unpopular technology.
St. Johns police, which last month said it would follow a Florida transportation department directive to remove cameras from state highways, said the arrest began with an alert Thursday from a camera not on a state highway.
The alert notified police that a vehicle traveling near County Road 210 and Beach Walk was registered to David Kegley, whom police said is convicted felon wanted by Duval County authorities for four active felony warrants.
“Using the LPR system, deputies quickly located Kegley’s vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, which escalated into a vehicle pursuit,” according to a post Saturday on St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page titled “LPR Success in St. Johns County.”
Kegley abandoned his vehicle near International Golf Parkway and Bannon Lakes Blvd. He was later found near a 7-Eleven, where he was confronted by deputies, the post said.
Kegley placed a knife to his throat, refused to surrender, and attempted to take his own life by inflicting multiple wounds to his neck.
Deputies used Tasers to subdue Kegley and gave him medical aid, before first responders airlifted him to HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital. He is expected to survive.
Kegley was charged with burglary across county lines, possessing stolen credit/debit cards, larceny, credit card fraud, and eluding police.
He remains in the hospital and will be booked into jail upon his release.
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