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DUI Stop, Chase Led To Death Of Driver In Sarasota County

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TODD RUGER / Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: December 18, 2007

SARASOTA COUNTY - The man whom deputies shot and killed after a car chase Saturday night originally was stopped on suspicion of drunken driving on U.S. 301, the sheriff's office said Monday.

Michael N. Brabazon, 39, stopped his car near Myrtle Street and Orange Avenue when a deputy turned on his flashing lights and pulled him over for driving slowly and weaving, sheriff's spokesman Chuck Lesaltato said.

Brabazon sped off when the deputy got out of his squad car, starting a chase across Sarasota that ended miles away with Brabazon shot to death about 10:40 p.m.

Authorities say Brabazon pointed a gun at one of the deputies, and investigators found a handgun on the scene.

"Until we get forensics and toxicology, we won't know if there was anything in his system," Lesaltato said.

The investigation is ongoing, and six deputies who were at the scene of the shooting have been put on administrative leave pending the outcome of that probe, Lesaltato said.

The deputies are Christopher Hallisey, Arik Smith, Scott Huber, Troy Sasse, Derek Baker and Theresa Norton. Norton was hired in July and started field training last week.

Lesaltato declined to give details about the shooting, citing the ongoing investigation.

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