Three men arrested after fleeing from a traffic stop in Daytona Beach.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News 

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of three men from Crescent City who attempted to flee a traffic stop in Daytona Beach. The suspects fled over twenty miles away from the original traffic stop, were followed by Air One, and later apprehended in Southeast Volusia County.

According to a release, just before 2 a.m. on Friday, July 15, Air One was on proactive patrol when the crew spotted a vehicle driving recklessly in Daytona Beach. A deputy attempted a traffic stop, and the vehicle fled at high speed, heading out of Daytona Beach and eventually into Southeast Volusia County as Air One followed overhead. The three occupants bailed out of the car, hiding off Clinton Cemetery Road in Edgewater and throwing a loaded AR-15-style short-barreled rifle and a bag of cocaine into the woods.

Two deputies with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office approached the suspects with K-9 Officer Red. All three suspects announced their presence, put their hands in the air, and were arrested without incident. Deputies were able to recover both the rifle and drugs from the woods, along with an additional firearm inside the vehicle.

Lee Chappell, 27, was charged with fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, resisting an officer without violence, driving with a revoked license (habitual), and several traffic citations. He has a prior conviction for fleeing and resisting arrest in 2016. 

Marcus Williams, 35, was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of cocaine, and resisting an officer without violence. His criminal history totaled 25 pages, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and armed burglary of an occupied dwelling, fleeing, resisting, and various other charges. 

Trayvone Addison, 21, was charged with resisting an officer without violence. His criminal history includes two recent convictions for carrying a concealed firearm in 2021 and 2022. 

Chappell, Williams, and Addison posted bond just after noon on Friday and were released from the Volusia County Branch Jail.