Man arrested after leading Manatee deputies on dirt bike chase

A 32-year-old Bradenton man thought he was successfully eluding Manatee County deputies on Tuesday evening, but he failed to look up to see that deputies in the sheriff’s helicopter had eyes on him the entire time.

By the time Zabian Williams was taken into custody at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, he would tally a half dozen charges, including two felonies.

Deputies say Williams was first spotted popping a wheelie on a dirt bike around 7:20 p.m. on April 21 while traveling through the intersection at 14th Street West and 57th Avenue West.

A deputy on patrol saw him and attempted a traffic stop, but Williams sped away.

The aviation unit was called and began to track Williams. Deputies were following but not pursuing, waiting on guidance from the aviation unit.

Williams continued a series of illegal driving moves, including running red lights, driving on sidewalks and speeding through parking lots.

The aviation unit captured it all on video

Williams dumped the bike in the 1600 block of University Parkway and scaled a fence onto airport property. Sarasota police officers were standing by in case Williams came their direction and were closest to the scene to take Williams into custody.

Williams will likely face additional charges for unlawfully entering airport property, according to the sheriff’s office.

Williams was booked into the Mantee County jail on April 21 on several misdemeanor charges, including resisting arrest, and felony fleeing to elude and felony driving with a revoked driver’s license, third offense.