PALATKA, Fla. — Deputies said a Putnam County woman led them on a high-speed chase Sunday after she stole a truck, pulled a gun on people and ran cars off the road.
“This was just a rapidly evolving, extremely dangerous situation,” Col. Joseph Wells with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies said 43-year-old Rachael Baggs stole the truck with a handgun inside from a relative’s house in Palatka at around 4 a.m. They said Baggs drove the stolen truck to another relative’s house nearby, pulled the gun on them and demanded items. The sheriff’s office said those items were involved in a family dispute.
About two hours later, deputies said they received a report from Baggs’ ex-lover stating Baggs drove the stolen truck into her home. Deputies said an altercation ensued, but Baggs left the home.
“She approached an ex-lover of hers and basically drove the pickup truck into the garage of the owner of the home,” Wells said.
Deputies said Baggs' ex was afraid for her safety with Baggs on the loose and took refuge at the sheriff’s office until the suspect was detained.
A Putnam County deputy later spotted Baggs in the stolen truck, beginning a high-speed chase exceeding 100 mph.
Deputies said once Baggs drove into Marion county, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office took over the chase. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office assisted.
“With the back-to-back violent crimes and the fact that she was armed with a handgun authorized a pursuit,” Wells said. “A rather lengthy and high-speed pursuit took place.”
The pursuit ended in Citra, where deputies said Baggs crashed the truck into the woods, got out and fired at a deputy.
“He was exiting his vehicle,” Wells said. “He heard three gunshots fired in pretty rapid succession and one of those rounds did enter his vehicle door.”
Baggs is sitting the Marion County Jail without bond. Charges are pending in multiple counties.