OCSO: Crestview woman flees during traffic stop, son struggles with deputy

CRESTVIEW, Fla. — A Crestview-area woman fled from an attempted traffic stop and her son struggled with a deputy attempting to arrest her, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said.

According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, an OCSO deputy witnessed Venetia Berry, 62, driving a truck with the wrong license tag attached.  The OCSO said Berry refused to pull over when the deputy tried to make a traffic stop on State Road 85 near Auburn Road around 10:30 a.m. on Monday.

Berry ultimately stopped at her home on Cosson Circle, and the deputy said it appeared she was going to flee on foot. While attempting to take Berry into custody, her son, Mark Dandridge, 38, reportedly appeared from the yard and approached the deputy in a hostile and aggressive manner.

The OCSO statement said Dandridge ignored verbal commands to not interfere with the arrest. As he reportedly continued coming towards the deputy, Dandridge was tased with little effect.

He ran and then allegedly struggled with the deputy in the front yard before taking off again. Deputies said they found him hiding nearby a short time later.

The deputy was not injured in the struggle, the OCSO said.

Dandridge is charged with resisting arrest with violence.

Berry is charged with felony fleeing and eluding, driving with a suspended or revoked license, and driving with a tag not assigned.