Double Daytona 200 winner arrested days before race
Danny Eslick accused of punching a police officer
DANNY Eslick has taken two consecutive victories at the prestigious Daytona 200 and will be gunning for a record-breaking third win in a row this weekend but his preparations hit a hitch when he was arrested earlier this week after an alleged scuffle with a cop.
Eslick, shown in his mugshot here, has been charged with the felony of battery on a law enforcement officer.
According to local reports, police were called after a 51-year-old woman was pushed to the ground on Main Street in Daytona – the epicentre of the famous Bike Week. Officer Gregory Quinn responded to the call and wrote in his report:
'On March 7, 2016 at approximately 2346 Hours, while working a detail at Ocean Ave and Main St I responded to a call for a battery that occurred at the intersection of Main St and Atlantic Ave.
Upon my arrival, I observed a white male (The defendant) running North Bound on Ocean Ave. Special Events Officer Soto witnessed the defendant push Beth Gilbert to the ground and then began to run East on Main St to Ocean Ave. I identified myself as a Daytona Beach Police Officer and the defendant stopped and put his hands in the air and stated "I'm just goofing off with my friends."
As I approached the defendant he began to walk away from me. I gave the defendant clear and concise commands to stop but he ignored my command and continued to walk away from me. At this point I grabbed the defendant's right arm to prevent him from leaving. The defendant responded by shoving me in my shoulder causing my portable radio microphone to detach from my uniform.
The defendant then began to run West Bound in an alleyway toward Atlantic Ave, from Ocean Ave. I pursued the defendant, on foot, into the alleyway and grabbed him by his clothing. The defendant was able to break free and from my hold and turned around and struck me in the chest with a closed fist one time. The defendant then put his hands up and postured in a fighting stance. I regained my hold on the defendant and struck him three times with a closed fist on his upper torso in an attempted to subdue him as he actively resisted me.
The defendant again shoved me and began to runaway West Bound in the alleyway. The defendant tripped and fell as he was attempting get away from me. I attempted to spray the defendant with my department issued OC spray but was unable to make contact with the defendant, as he was running away from me. The defendant climbed over a fence into a parking lot where Special Events Officer Soto was able to gain control of the defendant.
At this time the defendant ceased all aggressive movements and was placed into custody. O-1 did not have any visible injuries and refused rescue. O-1 stated she did not want to press charges and did not want to fill out a written statement.
One digital photograph was taken and submitted into property and evidence via email. The defendant was transported the Beach Side Prescient for processing and later transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail.
No Officers were injured during this investigation.'
It’s by not the first time a multiple Daytona winner has run into trouble during the week-long festival. In 1999, Scott Russell – the event’s most successful racer ever with five superbike victories – got into a bar fight on the Thursday before the race and missed the event altogether.
