A Florida man allegedly led police on a high-speed chase that ended with his pickup truck rolling onto its side in a field. But when deputies surrounded the wrecked vehicle and ordered him out, he had an unusual request: he wanted a cigarette.
The incident involved several law enforcement agencies pursuing 22-year-old Zachary Taylor Murray, who had apparently ignored traffic laws and was allegedly putting other motorists at risk. Even after the crash, he appeared more concerned about getting a smoke than getting out of trouble.
According to Mandatory, the incident happened around 3:05 a.m. on October 18. Deputies with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) were near Orange Grove Boulevard in North Fort Myers when they received a call for backup from the Fort Myers Police Department.
The officer was having none of it
Officers in Fort Myers had been trying to stop a white pickup truck, but the driver had taken off and was heading toward Lee County. Deputies soon spotted the vehicle near the intersection of Orange Grove Boulevard and Pondella Road.
The driver was already taking risks to get away. He swerved around a parked car, ran a red light and nearly collided with another motorist. Deputies switched on their lights and sirens, hoping to bring the truck to a stop. Murray allegedly accelerated instead.
Things became more dangerous when the truck crossed the street median and entered lanes carrying oncoming traffic. With the possibility of a head-on collision, deputies decided to use a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver to stop him. The maneuver forced the pickup off the road. It rolled onto its side in a nearby field, bringing the chase to an abrupt end.
Footage from police bodycams and dashcams captured what happened next. Deputies approached the smoking truck with their guns drawn and ordered the driver to raise his hands and open the door. Since the vehicle was lying on its side, the driver’s door was facing upward.
Murray struggled to get himself into position inside the overturned cab before managing to open it. Rather than immediately climbing out, he looked toward the officers and asked, “All right. Can I get a cigarette?” A deputy was having none of it. “Get out of the truck!” the officer shouted, prompting Murray to comply.
He’s being held to a bond exceeding $44,000
Deputies identified the driver as Murray, 22, and took him into custody. A subsequent search of the pickup reportedly turned up illegal drugs, including cocaine in an amount above the trafficking threshold.
Murray now faces multiple felony charges and is being held on a bond exceeding $44,000 while awaiting a court appearance. What began as an attempt to evade a traffic stop had ended with a wrecked truck, a police standoff and a request for a cigarette that officers clearly weren’t interested in entertaining.
Published: Nov 4, 2026 12:30 pm