Video: Suspect Surrenders After Attempt At Fleeing With Helicopter Overhead

Date Added: January 13, 2023 9:59 pm

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

SUSPECT SURRENDERS AFTER ATTEMPT AT FLEEING WITH HELICOPTER OVERHEAD

A fleeing subject with a warrant tried to outrun Air One for about 30 minutes in DeLand on Friday afternoon, but ultimately decided to surrender to deputies on the ground.

Kyle Bellantoni, 29 (DOB 4/17/1993), was wanted on charges of violation of probation for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking and domestic battery when a license plate reader in DeLand caught his tag just before 4 p.m.

Deputies in the area began looking for the grey Dodge Challenger he was driving, and soon Air One arrived overhead. The helicopter followed the car as it took a circuitous escape route through the DeLand area, ending with a bailout near the woods in the area south of Walts and Winslow avenues.

Bellantoni appeared to lay down and hide from Air One behind a tree before making a run for it through thick brush as deputies and a K-9 unit moved in on his hiding spot.

When Bellantoni emerged from the treeline with his hands up, deputies were there to greet him. He surrendered and was taken into custody without further incident.

Bellantoni was taken to the hospital for treatment of an apparent medical episode, then transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail.