Man caught after three-hour brush hunt

A man in Volusia County, Florida, spent three hours hiding in coastal vegetation after fleeing a police stop, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office. Bradford Kanan, 37, was located just before 9 p.m. on Wednesday, roughly three hours after deputies first responded to a call on S. Atlantic Ave. in New Smyrna Beach.

Deputies arrived around 6 p.m. on a suspicious person report. Investigators state that Kanan refused to exit his vehicle and drove to a boat ramp at Canaveral National Seashore. He bailed out of the car and attempted to conceal himself in the brush. Patrol deputies, K-9 units, drone teams, and a helicopter joined the search effort.

K-9 units discovered Kanan crawling through palm fronds. During the apprehension, he was combative and fought the police dog. Deputies reported that Kanan claimed to be armed and threatened to shoot them, although no weapon was found at the time of his arrest.

Kanan faces charges of aggravated assault, battery on a K-9, fleeing and eluding, and resisting arrest. Officers also took him into custody on an existing domestic violence warrant. He was transported to a hospital for evaluation before being moved to jail.