Fleeing Case Ends in Guilty Verdict

A Gulf County jury convicted Abigail Lee Gilbert last week of fleeing and attempting to elude a law enforcement officer.

The charge is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Prosecutor Tim Register showed jurors during the two-day trial that Gilbert, 20, drove away from a Gulf County Sheriff's deputy the morning of Feb. 17 as the deputy was attempting to stop Gilbert because her vehicle had a broken headlight.

The deputy first observed Gilbert traveling south on State 71 about 2:26 a.m. When the deputy turned his vehicle, the vehicle Gilbert was driving turned onto County 381 and accelerated away. The officer activated his blue lights and then his siren and watched the car reach speeds of up to 70 mph and almost lose control several times.

The car came to a stop after 2.2 miles and Gilbert was arrested.