August 5, 2025 | PoliticalBourbon.com
In a world where chaos sometimes seems to get the upper hand, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reminded us this week that grit, guts, and good ol’ law enforcement can still carry the day. On August 3, 2025, FHP troopers, alongside Liberty and Gadsden County deputies, executed a high-speed pursuit through the backroads of North Florida, rescuing a kidnapped 2-month-old infant from an armed suspect who thought he could outrun justice. This is the kind of story that makes you tip your hat to the men and women who keep our roads and communities safe. The drama kicked off around 4:00 p.m. when FHP was alerted to a kidnapping suspect, Maurtez Rashaad Edwards, 23, of Macon, Georgia, tearing down US 319 in Wakulla County in a silver Ford F-150. Edwards was wanted out of Bibb County, Georgia, for the aggravated kidnapping of his own 2-month-old child, Montez Harris. Thanks to a sharp-eyed citizen who recognized the vehicle from an active AMBER Alert and provided real-time updates to Liberty County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) dispatch, authorities zeroed in on the suspect. As Sheriff Dusty Arnold put it, “Without the caller, calling, we might not have never gotten behind this vehicle… When you see these AMBER alerts, make sure you’re paying attention.”
By 4:35 p.m., Trooper Norris and LCSO deputies spotted Edwards’ truck barreling westbound on SR 20 and SR 267 in Leon County, heading toward Liberty County. When they attempted a traffic stop, Edwards didn’t just ignore them—he floored it, sparking a dangerous pursuit that would test the mettle of every officer involved. According to FHP, Edwards drove “erratically,” hitting speeds up to 92 miles per hour, brake-checking patrol units, and showing zero regard for the infant strapped in the backseat.
Trooper Norris took point, attempting a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver to stop the fleeing vehicle, but Edwards kept control and reversed direction, heading east on SR 20. The chase spilled into Gadsden County, where Trooper Myers joined the effort. With the stakes sky-high—an innocent baby’s life on the line—Myers executed a slow-speed PIT maneuver at the T-intersection of Flat Creek Road and Bonnie Hill Road, finally bringing Edwards’ truck to a halt. In a final act of defiance, Edwards rammed an FHP vehicle, but no serious injuries were reported.
What happened next could’ve come straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster. As deputies and troopers approached the disabled vehicle, Edwards pulled an AR-15 rifle from inside and placed the barrel under his chin, creating a tense standoff. LCSO deputies, showing nerves of steel, rushed in and disarmed him after a brief struggle. Edwards then bolted into a nearby wooded area, abandoning his infant son. But he didn’t get far. Trooper Sanders and LCSO deputies tracked him down and slapped the cuffs on him.
Inside the truck, Trooper Norris found the 2-month-old Montez Harris, safely secured in a car seat with no signs of injury. Gadsden County EMS checked the infant at the scene before transporting him to a local hospital as a precaution, where he was reunited with his mother and grandmother. “Everything checked out well with the baby,” Sheriff Arnold confirmed.
Edwards was booked into Liberty County Jail, facing a laundry list of charges in Florida: fleeing and eluding law enforcement, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery on an officer, cruelty toward a child, kidnapping a child under 13, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Additional charges are expected out of Georgia for the original kidnapping.
“This incident highlights how important it is for the motoring public to stay alert to their surroundings and assist law enforcement,” said Colonel Gary Howze of the Florida Highway Patrol. “It demonstrates how Florida law enforcement work together as resource multipliers in our commitment to helping those in harm’s way, pursuing justice and holding criminals accountable.”
Dave Kerner, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, praised the multi-agency effort: “This successful operation highlights what’s possible when state and local agencies work together.” Sheriff Arnold echoed the sentiment, calling it “outstanding cooperation between multiple agencies.”
At PoliticalBourbon.com, we see this as more than just a takedown of a reckless criminal. It’s a testament to the kind of vigilance and teamwork that keeps our communities free and safe. When an armed suspect thinks he can run roughshod over the law, putting an innocent child in danger, it’s the FHP and local sheriffs who stand in the gap. And let’s not forget the unsung hero: that citizen who picked up the phone and made the call. That’s the spirit of liberty—folks looking out for each other and holding the line against those who’d tear it all down. So here’s to the troopers, deputies, and everyday Americans who make stories like this possible. In a world full of noise, it’s good to know there are still those who’ll chase down the bad guys and bring the innocent home safe. Stay vigilant, stay free, and keep the bourbon flowing.
