NORTH PORT, Fla. — Neighbors in North Port locked their doors as the police searched for a suspect, marking an unsettling Monday night filled with the sounds of K9s and drones above.
“All of us neighbors were texting each other, hey, did you hear? Did you hear?” shared Martha, reflecting the growing tension in the air.
Such news, they say, was wholly unexpected.
ORIGINAL REPORTING:
WANTED: North Port Police searching for man they say hit an officer with his car (fox4now.com)
According to North Port Police, the incident began when officers attempted to pull over a man for a traffic stop. The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Debahj Grant, not only fled but also trapped an officer in the doorway of his car during the chaotic escape.
“If he’s running from police, I think he might do anything, so I’m just worried for everybody’s safety,” Martha voiced, her concern echoing through the neighborhood.
Watch Bella’s full report below.
“Did you hear?” some neighbors locked their doors and others looked for answers
The tension felt palpable. Some neighbors recounted the frantic moments. “It all unfolded just steps from our homes. I was shocked, you know?” said Rebecca, another resident.
Rebecca described the strangeness of the situation. “At that point, I really didn’t know what was going on because events like this are rare in our neighborhood,” she added, a bit incredulous.
Others hunkered down, gripped by the anxiety of the unknown.
“We couldn’t sleep very well because we were thinking, oh my gosh, there’s someone out there who tried to hurt a police officer,” Martha admitted, eyes wide with worry.
A handful of residents took it upon themselves to seek clarity. “I took my car, drove down the road, and when I saw a car turning around, I felt compelled to follow. That’s when I witnessed the police action,” Rebecca recounted, highlighting the community’s instinct to stay informed.
North Port Police reported that the initial stop occurred at the intersection of Price Boulevard and Purdue Street. Grant fled just a short distance away to Amnesty Drive and Napolean Road. There, it is said he abandoned his vehicle, sparking a large-scale search.
The search was punctuated by the whir of a helicopter overhead. “It kept circling and circling, and I thought to myself, there must be something major going on,” Rebecca recalled, her heart racing.
In that moment, the quiet hum of suburban life was disrupted like never before. Neighbors, previously unaware of the unease lurking in their community, were now thrust into an unexpected reality—a reality where safety felt fragile.
As their routines were disrupted, these residents faced a mix of fear and uncertainty, mere blocks away from something potentially dangerous. Yet, in the midst of this chaos, a sense of camaraderie began to emerge. They were not alone; they were part of a community, looking out for one another, even as the night stretched into the unknown.
