Fugitive Captured After Jeopardizing Safety Of His Children

DADE CITY, FL -- The Dade City Police Department arrested Christopher Lee Christy, 29, on a fugitive warrant out of Hamilton County and safely took custody of his three children thanks to tips from residents.

Christy was arrested Aug. 16 at 11:40 a.m. at the American Inn on State Road 6 near Interstate 75 in Jasper.

Christy, along with his girlfriend, Shannon Adams, were taken into custody without incident.

The Dade City Police Department and Pasco County Sheriff's Office had been working together since Tuesday, Aug. 14, to locate and apprehend Christy after he fled from a bail bondsman and committed an aggravated assault on a Dade City Police officer by intentionally driving at the officer at a high rate of speed.

Late Tuesday evening, Christy reportedly fled with his children after assaulting his mother.

Christy was spotted by law enforcement in and around Dade City on a number of occasions, but eluded capture each time through aggressive and reckless driving with his three children in the car.

Police became concerned about the welfare of the children due to Christy's increasingly dangerous behavior. Coordinated efforts between the Dade City Police, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Department of Children and Families enabled authorities to send out a missing children’s alert, which prompted residents to call with information that assisted police in locating Christy’s whereabouts.

Upon approaching the hotel room, deputies heard the voices of children but no one opened the door when the police knocked. Officers forced open the door and arrested Christy and Adams and found the children safe.

Christy and Adams are now in the custody of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. DCF has taken custody of the children.

Image via FDLE

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