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Published on Friday, June 25, 2004
in the St. Petersburg Times
Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet honored two Citrus County sheriff's deputies Thursday in Tallahassee.
Deputies Dan Slingerland and Matt Taylor arrested Gregory H. Platt on April 27 after a chase through west Citrus. Platt was fleeing Columbia County, where a Florida Highway Patrol trooper had driven off the road and died while trying to stop Platt on suspicion of speeding.
The Citrus deputies, driving together, chased Platt's vehicle on U.S. 19 and State Road 44. According to official accounts, Platt's vehicle struck theirs at SR 44 and County Road 486.
The deputies chased Platt on foot and arrested him.
Platt now awaits trial on a charge of second-degree murder. Investigators believe FHP Sgt. George A. "Andy" Brown III, 54, tried to stop Platt on Columbia County Road 341, near Lake City. Platt suddenly braked, and Brown lost control of his cruiser and hit an oak tree as he tried to avoid the Plymouth Neon.
Based on skid marks and witnesses' statements, officers suspect Platt intended to cause Brown to lose control.
Platt, 31, of Naples, also is charged with driving with a suspended license which resulted in a death, fleeing and eluding a police officer, and failing to stop in an accident involving a death. He also faces charges in connection with the Citrus part of the chase.
Sheriff's spokeswoman Gail Tierney said FHP requested that the governor and Cabinet honor the Citrus deputies. Among those present at the ceremony Thursday was Sheriff Jeff Dawsy.
Also Thursday, Slingerland and Taylor were honored during a presentation at the FHP academy in Tallahassee.