Troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) are investigating a road rage incident that ended in the arrest of 35 year-old Jonathan Blaine of Palm Harbor.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:18 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2020 near the intersection of Lake St. George Drive and Langstaff Drive.
Troopers say that Blaine was operating a 2014 Mazda CX5 southbound on Lake St. George Drive. He claimed that he saw a motorcycle coming up behind him at a high rate of speed. He told troopers, that for an unknown reason, his vehicle was struck by the motorcyclist.
Blaine voluntarily showed the trooper the video from his own dash cam. The video shows Blaine driving straight and then one swift jerk of the vehicle to the left leading to impact with the motorcycle.
Troopers say the motorcyclist sustained visible injuries and wished to cooperate with pursuing charges against Blaine.
Blaine was placed in handcuffs and escorted to the rear of the FHP vehicle. He reportedly refused to sit inside the vehicle and struck the trooper with his shoulder and upper body in an attempt to escape. According to the arrest affidavit, Blaine was taken to the ground and a scuffle ensued for an extended period of time. Blaine actions were described as grabbing the troopers gun belt during the scuffle. Deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrived and Blaine was taken into custody following the threatened use of a taser.
VIDEO OF INCIDENT
Blaine remains in the Pinellas County Jail on the following charges
Battery; Aggravated (Deadly Weapon)
Battery on a law enforcement officer
Resisting an officer with violence
Escape
Bail has been set at $80,000.