Brooksville man charged after pursuit leaves deputy seriously injured

Trevaun Hampton, 31, faced multiple felony charges after Hernando County deputies said a traffic stop in Brooksville escalated into a pursuit that left Deputy Juan Moore seriously injured. The incident began near North Main Street and North Broad Street after Moore tried to stop Hampton, who was riding a white Kawasaki minibike motorcycle.

According to the account tied to the arrest, the encounter turned fast. Deputies said Hampton accelerated after Moore grabbed his shirt, then fled through Brooksville streets as the stop became a pursuit. Moore was pulled to the ground and suffered serious injuries to his hand, arm, leg and knee. He was taken to a hospital and later experienced substantial pain and extreme difficulty walking.

Investigators later said Hampton was found near East Jefferson Street and Bell Avenue, but the chase did not end there. Deputies alleged he kept running, rode onto a sidewalk in a way that showed wanton disregard for pedestrian safety, and was finally cornered on the west side of 247 Oakland Avenue. There, officials said, he refused commands to get on the ground before deputies physically restrained him and took him into custody.

Court records cited in the case say Hampton was being held on a $39,000 bond and would have to wear a GPS device if released. The charges listed include aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding, resisting an officer with violence, driving on a suspended license, operating a motorcycle without the proper endorsement and operating an unregistered vehicle.

The case highlights how quickly a routine stop can turn dangerous for deputies working city streets in Brooksville and South Brooksville. A short pursuit, a sidewalk run and a physical takedown were enough to put an officer in the hospital and send the case into felony territory.

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement would investigate, and the deputy would be placed on paid administrative leave. Sheriff Al Nienhuis has also urged the public to rely on verified information from official sources while investigators work. In a county where even brief roadside encounters can turn chaotic, the case puts a sharp focus on pursuit tactics, officer safety and the risks residents face when a suspect chooses flight over a stop.