Fugitive who led Collier deputies on massive manhunt appears in court

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla.- We now know why a man led Collier deputies on a high speed chase and a massive manhunt that shut down a neighborhood Wednesday.

Prince Williamson, 28, was in court on Thursday, facing charges for leading deputies on a high speed chase along I-75.

Deputies say he was traveling at 115 mph when they tried to pull him over. Authorities say he fled and eventually dumped his Jeep in a neighborhood near Livingston Road and Golden Gate Parkway.

A helicopter, swat teams and search dogs hunted for Williamson for hours in the thick brush.  The search was so intense, neighbors were told to stay away from their homes.

“I know Collier County is doing what they need to do,” said neighbor, Ann Mattson.

Deputies arrested Williamson’s passenger, 21-year-old Taylor Bins when they found a bag of heroin in the globe compartment. But, the judge let her go on Wednesday, saying the court didn’t know whose heroin it was.

Deputies eventually spotted Williamson running across busy Livingston Road. He climbed a fence into the affluent, gated community of Grey Oaks. Undercover deputies and search dogs hunted him down after he hid at a home. One of the dogs bit his hand and he was treated at NCH downtown.

Williamson is now facing charges of trespassing, driving on a suspended license and fleeing and eluding.  He’s being held on $42,000 bond.