WALTON COUNTY, Fla., Aug. 27, 2021—An attempted traffic stop by an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy Thursday turned into a pursuit that lasted approximately 24 miles through Okaloosa and Walton counties.

It ended when the driver, Crestview resident Caleb Charles Rubley, 22, ran out of gas on Interstate 10 near mile marker 61 and was taken into custody after being tased.

Rubley is charged with fleeing and eluding, methamphetamine possession, firearm possession by a convicted felon, resisting arrest, no driver’s license, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence and felony probation violation.

According to an OCSO news release, a sheriff’s deputy spotted a white 1999 Infinity with a missing brake light on Industrial Drive in Crestview around 7:30 p.m. and noticed the driver couldn’t stay in his lane.

Rubley ignored lights and sirens, refused to stop, sped through portions of Okaloosa and Walton counties and hit speeds in excess of 90 mph, according to the arrest report. At one point, he led deputies through a construction zone with workers present.

Once Rubley ran out of gas on I-10, he ditched the car and ran into the woods. 

The deputy ended the chase by tasering Rubley who fell to the ground and dropped a loaded handgun, according to the release.

A search of the car uncovered:

• 4 grams of meth on the driver’s side floorboard
• A digital scale with powder residue that field tested for meth
• Numerous used hypodermic needles; one tested for meth
• Rounds of .410 ammunition which fit the handgun Rubley was carrying

Rubley told deputies he ran because he had an active Okaloosa County warrant, according to the report. He owned up to owning the contraband listed, but claimed the gun wasn’t his. He said he intended to toss it into the woods so it wouldn’t be found.

Rubley was confined to his residence on felony probation until April 2024 and was not allowed to possess alcohol or narcotics, according to the report.

He was charged with DUI after refusing to give a urine sample, stating he smoked meth earlier in the day.

Rubley was arrested in June for probation violation for meth possession and giving false identification to law enforcement officers. He was also arrested in April for driving without a license and drug possession. His Walton County probation violation stems from drug charges in DeFuniak Springs in 2017.