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Published on Friday, July 2, 2004
in the Naples Daily News
A North Naples man already wanted in Collier County for skipping out on bond in a burglary case now faces murder charges elsewhere in Florida involving the death of a highway patrolman who crashed his car and died while chasing the suspect and his girlfriend.
Gregory Hampton Platt, 31, faces felony charges in three Florida counties. A grand jury in Lake City, Columbia County, indicted Platt on charges of second-degree murder, fleeing the scene of a crash with death, fleeing a law enforcement officer in a high-speed chase and driving with a suspended license.
If convicted, Platt could face a life sentence plus 35 more years in prison on the other three charges, said Todd Hingson, the assistant state attorney handling the case in Columbia Circuit Court.
Platt was arrested in Crystal River, Citrus County, after authorities said he eluded the pursuit of Highway Patrol Sgt. George "Andy" Brown III on April 28. Platt was driving a purple Dodge Neon with the back window missing when Trooper Brown attempted to pull him over. Platt refused, instead speeding up, authorities said.
During the chase, Platt slammed on the brakes, and Brown tried to stop to avoid hitting Platt. Instead, Brown slammed into a tree and died instantly, according to witnesses.
Platt and his girlfriend, North Naples resident Kelly Jean Smith, then fled about 100 miles south from Lake City to Crystal River, north of Tampa. A state agricultural police officer there saw the car matched a description of the car Brown was chasing. Citrus County deputies gave chase. Platt hit a parked car and a Sheriff's Office patrol car before fleeing on foot, according to the arrest report. He was captured soon afterward.
He's charged in Citrus County with resisting arrest without violence, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding and driving with a suspended license. Columbia County prosecutors investigated and took the case to a grand jury, which issued the murder indictment.
Platt is held on no bond at the Citrus County Jail.
Smith was charged in Citrus County with misdemeanor drug possession and resisting arrest and was released on $10,000 bond May 1. She faces no charges in Collier and hasn't been arrested in connection with the trooper's death. Hingson said Smith was only a passenger, while Platt is responsible for the trooper's death.
"It's basically homicide by an act that's imminently dangerous to another, with a depraved mind," Hingson said. He added that second-degree murder requires the prosecutor to prove the defendant intended to commit the act that's dangerous, such as running from the authorities. The prosecutor doesn't have to prove the defendant intended to kill anyone during that act.
Platt is set for arraignment Aug. 4. He has yet to enter a plea or hire a lawyer.
"He may also qualify for enhanced sentencing as a habitual offender," Hingson said. That means the judge could double the sentence, which must be served day for day with no time off for good behavior in prison.
Hingson wouldn't comment on the facts and said he hasn't charged Smith with anything in Columbia County.
"She likely could face some criminal charges up in Columbia County, not necessarily related to the trooper's death," Hingson said.
The crash that killed Brown occurred less than a week after Platt, 110 Rose Blvd., missed a mandatory appearance in Collier Circuit Court. Platt is charged with three counts of burglary of a dwelling and three counts of grand theft and was out of jail on $60,000 bond. He could face up to 40 years in prison if he's convicted.
A warrant for his arrest is active in Collier County, said Assistant State Attorney Dave Scuderi. The charges likely will be dealt with after the more serious case is disposed of in Columbia County.
Platt's criminal history includes a seven-year prison term between 1992 and 1999 on charges of robbery, robbery with a firearm, aggravated battery and four counts of kidnapping.
When Platt fled the charges in Collier, he and Smith, 25, 210 Rose Blvd., went to Lake City, in the Panhandle of Florida. Both were wanted for questioning in other burglaries.
Brown is the first FHP trooper to die in the line of duty since Brad Crooks was shot and killed in Hillsborough County in 1998.