Man Arrested Days After High Speed Fleeing From Deputies in Santa Rosa County

Pensacola Man Arrested Days After High Speed Fleeing From Deputies in Santa Rosa County

A Pensacola man is in the Santa Rosa County Jail after a high speed pursuit that he was involved in on 11/22/2012. The suspect, Alex Barnsdale (W/M, 25 years old) fled from Santa Rosa Deputies during the early morning hours of November 22nd after he struck and injured a deputy during a traffic stop. The deputy was struck by his own driver’s door as Barnsdale drove directly at the officer and hit the deputy’s cruiser door with his truck. This occurred in an apartment complex parking lot. The deputy suffered injuries and possible fractures to his leg. Other deputies pursued Barnsdale from Milton into Pace on Berryhill Road. The pursuit was terminated due to the extremely reckless nature of Barnsdale’s driving. Barnsdale was reaching speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour. Although deputies were not able to see the driver or obtain a tag on the vehicle, the apartment complex captured the incident on surveillance tape. Deputies were able to obtain the tape, and also find the individual with whom Barnsdale was going to visit that night. Further investigation revealed that Barnsdale was sending messages to that person via cell phone implicating him as being involved in the pursuit. One message from Barnsdale stated that he “had a cop problem” and that he ran through Milton and Pace. The person with whom Barnsdale was going to visit also stated that the truck in the video belongs to Alex Barnsdale. They also stated that they saw him driving it earlier that day. Barnsdale’s Facebook page also displayed a picture of him posing with the truck that was chased by deputies on 11/22/2012. A warrant was issued by a Judge for Barnsdale’s arrest on 11/27/2012. Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Deputies, along with the US Marshals Task Force, located Barnsdale’s vehicle shortly after midnight on 11/28/2012. The truck was parked in front of an apartment located in Escambia County near Whitmire Road. Barnsdale was also located inside the apartment and taken into custody. He was transported to the Escambia County Jail, and later transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail, where he remains incarcerated with no bond. Barnsdale was charged with High Speed Fleeing and Eluding, Aggravated Battery on an Officer, Driving While License Suspended, and Property Damage.