MAN CHARGED AFTER PURSUIT

A SARASOTA MAN WAS ARRESTED EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AFTER LEADING DEPUTIES ON A CHASE FOLLOWING A HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT.  DEPUTIES WERE CALLED JUST AFTER 1AM TO THE 6200 BLOCK OF MIDNIGHT PASS ROAD AFTER THE WRECK ON SIESTA KEY.  THEY TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE THAT WAS DRIVEN BY 51 YEAR OLD JOHN WEST, BUT WEST FLED.  AFTER A SHORT HIGH SPEED PURSUIT, DEPUTIES CORNERED WEST AT STICKNEY POINT ROAD AND US 41.  THERE WAS A FIFTEEN YEAR OLD PASSENGER IN HIS VEHICLE.  NEITHER WAS INJURED.  WEST WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH D U I, AGGRAVATED FLEEING TO ELUDE LAW ENFORCEMENT, DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE, CHILD ABUSE, AND ON A WARRANT FOR GRAND THEFT AUTO.  HE IS BEING HELD WITHOUT BOND IN THE SARASOTA COUNTY JAIL.