VIDEO: Florida man flees on foot as neighbor allegedly chases him in tractor
07/10/2018 2:35 pm PDT
By Corley Peel, WJXT
ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -- (WJXT) -- Cellphone video leading to the arrest of a man who deputies said chased down his neighbor on a tractor last month has been released by the State Attorney's Office.
The video, recorded by the neighbor's wife, who also called 911, ultimately led to the arrest of Howell Morris, according the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
Morris, 72, was booked June 19 into the St. Johns County jail on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, a third-degree felony. He was released the next day after posting $2,500 bond, jail records show.
The episode was filmed by the neighbor's wife, who called 911 and provided cellphone video to authorities that ultimately led to the man's arrest, according to a copy of his arrest report.
The cellphone video shows Scott Lynch running for his life as the tractor follows close behind.
Lynch's wife recorded the video and called 911 twice. The Sheriff's Office released those 911 calls Monday.
In the first 911 call, Lynch's wife told dispatchers that the neighbor was after her husband because of a property dispute.
Lynch, 53, told deputies the property dispute escalated when Morris climbed into his tractor, drove onto Lynch's property and chased him down his driveway, yelling, “Run, fat [expletive]!”
Lynch said he ran for his life, fearing Morris would have run him over if he stopped. The chase came to an end when Lynch took refuge inside his garage and shut the door.
After reviewing the video, which the arrest report said showed Morris "steer the tractor toward the victim as he was running down his driveway," the deputy took Morris into custody.
Online court records show Morris, a veteran, was ordered to have no contact with Lynch.
FULL STORY: Cellphone video, 911 calls released in tractor attack - WJXT