Sebring, FL – A Florida man was arrested on April 19, 2025, following a bizarre series of events that began with a theft at Spring Lake Market in Sebring, Florida.
Richard Christopher Smith is arrested after a wild chase, casually asking deputies if they had fun on April 19, 2025. Credit: Highlands County Sheriff’s Office.
At around 2:55 p.m., Highlands County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of 39-year-old Richard Christopher Smith of Miami stealing several items, including alcoholic beverages, before driving circles around the store in a black minivan.
When deputies arrived, Smith fled, initiating a police chase that ended miles later in a business parking lot at Sebring Airport.
During the chase, Smith held a can of Ketel One vodka spritz out his window, offering it to a deputy while saying, “I was just going to give you a drink, that’s it.”
“We would be very interested to hear from anyone else who has been offered a vodka spritzer by their suspect in the middle of a vehicle pursuit,” wrote Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman on Facebook.
“We don’t know if he was expecting us to just say “Cheers!” and let him go, or what.”
After allegedly attempting to ram two patrol vehicles and having his tires flattened by spike strips, Smith crashed.
The Florida man then casually attempted to walk away, smoking a cigarette, despite being surrounded by deputies.
Deputies surround Richard Christopher Smith after a pursuit ends at Sebring Airport on April 19, 2025. Credit: Highlands County Sheriff’s Office.
When arrested, Smith asked why he was being detained and remarked, “You guys had fun, though, right?”
Smith was tased during his post-crash smoke break and charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of resisting arrest, DUI, refusal to submit to a DUI test, and petit theft.
His bond was set at $120,000.