Volusia man hides in brush for three hours after fleeing traffic stop

Bradford Kanan was arrested on Wednesday night after evading law enforcement for approximately three hours in New Smyrna Beach. The Volusia Sheriff's Office confirmed that Kanan, 37, was located by canine units while hiding in dense vegetation.

Deputies arrived at a suspicious person report on S. Atlantic Avenue around 6 p.m. Investigators stated that Kanan refused to exit his vehicle and subsequently drove away from the scene. He abandoned the car at a boat ramp inside Canaveral National Seashore and entered the surrounding brush.

A multi-agency search effort followed, involving patrol deputies, drone teams, and a helicopter. Just before 9 p.m., police dogs found Kanan crawling through palm fronds. During the physical apprehension, the suspect resisted and fought with the K-9 unit.

According to deputies, Kanan told officers he was armed and threatened to shoot them during the encounter. No weapon was recovered at the time of his arrest. He was transported to a hospital for medical evaluation prior to being moved to jail.

Kanan faces charges of aggravated assault, battery on a K-9, fleeing and eluding, and resisting arrest. He was also held on a pre-existing domestic violence warrant.