SPRING HILL, FL. – A Florida man and his girlfriend landed in jail after eluding law enforcement in a series of unfortunate events.
On December 38, 2021, a warrant for Michael Joseph Shipton, 31, was issued on a charge of Felony Petit Theft for mail theft in the area of Lucky Lane in Spring Hill.
Deputies received information that Shipton was currently driving a white Toyota Corolla bearing a U.S. Army tag. The Intelligence Unit began searching for Shipton and the vehicle. A few days later, detectives learned that Shipton had spray-painted the vehicle black.
On January 11, Detectives were traveling south on Broad Street, near the area of Southern Hills Boulevard, when they spotted the vehicle matching the description of Shipton’s vehicle.
Detectives were able to verify that Shipton was the driver of the vehicle.
Due to his warrant and having a suspended Florida driver’s license, a traffic stop was attempted on Spring Hill Drive, near the Hernando County Detention Center.
Shipton fled from the traffic stop, driving through a retention pond and running several cars off the roadway. Hernando County Detectives stopped the pursuit.
On Wednesday, at approximately 1:21 p.m., Shipton was observed by detectives at a residence in the Big Tree Mobile Home Park, located at 6130 Broad Street in Brooksville.
Shipton was sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle that was backed under the carport of a residence. Detectives exited their vehicle and gave Shipton several verbal commands to exit the vehicle. At that time, Shipton started the vehicle and accelerated from the driveway directly toward one of the members of the Intelligence Unit, nearly hitting the deputy.
A pursuit was not initiated due to several people with young children walking in the area, according to HCSO.
According to deputies, Shipton fled in the vehicle, traveling south on Broad Street at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was spotted several minutes later entering Pasco County, and Pasco Sheriff’s deputies were notified.
At approximately 1:59 p.m., the vehicle was located in the area of Shady Hills in Pasco County by a Pasco Sheriff’s Office K-9 Deputy, who attempted a traffic stop. Shipton fled from the traffic stop, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office engaged in a vehicle pursuit.
The pursuit continued north and eventually entered Hernando County, where Shipton crashed the vehicle into a mailbox on Newhope Road in Spring Hill.
Following the crash, Shipton fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office K-9 Deputy.
Shipton’s girlfriend, Jaylynn Renee Matusiak, 18, was located in the passenger seat of the vehicle. She had an active juvenile pickup order for Grand Theft Auto. Although Matusiak is currently 18, the offense was committed when she was a juvenile.
The vehicle was registered to an individual currently incarcerated in the Hernando County Detention Center. Contact was made with the owner at which time he reported the vehicle as stolen.
In addition to the incidents above, HCSO Economic Crimes Unit was also actively investigating Shipton for fraud. On December 17, 2021, Shipton passed several counterfeit bills during the private purchase of a cell phone from a Hernando County citizen.
Shipton was charged as follows:
(Hernando County charges)
- Felony Petit Theft
- Grand Theft Auto
- Fleeing/Eluding
- Driving with a Suspended License
- Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer
- Driving with a Suspended License
- Uttering a Forged Bill (four counts)
- Theft
(Pasco County charges)
- Fleeing/Eluding
- Resisting Arrest without Violence
Shipton was transported to the Hernando County Detention Center where he is being held in lieu of a $65,150 bond.
Matusiak was charged as follows:
- Grand Theft Auto (warrant)
Matusiak was transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Ocala on a no bond status.
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