An Ortonville man will serve a year in jail after fleeing from a Brandon deputy during an attempted traffic stop in January.
Martin Lee Bruner, 42, was sentenced June 9 to 365 days in jail, with credit for 132 days served, on charges of fleeing and eluding third degree and driving while license suspended, second or subsequent offense. Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Fred M. Mester also ordered Bruner to two years probation and substance abuse treatment.
According to police reports, the deputy was on patrol on Jan. 23 around 7:27 p.m. on Ortonville Road when he observed a black GMC truck with an expired plate turn east on Glass Road. The deputy activated his lights to stop the vehicle, which sped up. The deputy advised dispatch of his pursuit, but due to snowy weather conditions and snow-covered roads that the deputy was traveling at speeds in excess of 60 mph, he determined it was unsafe to continue the chase.
Deputies checked an address in the 2200 block of Granger to which the registered owner of the vehicle lived and at 7:36 p.m., located the suspect vehicle parked behind a barn.
The vehicle was easy to find, since there was six inches of fresh snow on the ground. Deputies followed footprints from the vehicle, which eventually led to the garage door of the residence. The house was dark and all doors were locked.
The homeowner was in Florida, and he advised police that his son, Bruner, had access to the home and his vehicle. The man then gave police consent to search his home and Bruner was located lying on the floor in a bedroom.
Bruner has at least 11 prior convictions for driving while license suspended and at least three prior convictions for fleeing and eluding police.