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T4 News MediaUSApackage25 August 2026

Intense Police Chase And 3h Standoff After Convicted Felon Wanted For Murder Flees Police

This is the moment police spin a pickup truck off the road to end a chase with an armed murder suspect.

This image is a screen grab of the video supplied titled NewsX-ConvictMurder-01.mp4: Bodycam footage shows Volusia County deputies pursuing and using a PIT maneuver on a pickup driven by an armed homicide suspect before a roughly three-hour standoff ended with his surrender in Volusia County, Florida, August 23, 2026.( Clipzilla/NX)
This image is a screen grab of the video supplied titled NewsX-ConvictMurder-01.mp4: Bodycam footage shows Volusia County deputies pursuing and using a PIT maneuver on a pickup driven by an armed homicide suspect before a roughly three-hour standoff ended with his surrender in Volusia County, Florida, August 23, 2026.( Clipzilla/NX)© Clipzilla/NX

This is the moment police spin a pickup truck off the road to end a chase with an armed murder suspect.

The bodycam footage was released by the Volusia Sheriff's Office (VSO) on 23rd August and shows the pursuit in Volusia County, in the US state of Florida.

The video shows the truck running south before the deputy's car clips its rear and sends it off into the treeline.

Deputies had been alerted at about 3.15pm on Sunday, 23rd August, after a homicide was reported in nearby Altamonte Springs.

A lookout was circulated for a black Ram pickup whose driver was believed to be carrying a handgun.

An automatic number plate reader picked up the truck in Volusia County at about 4.30pm and a deputy pulled in behind it on State Road 415.

The driver ignored an attempted traffic stop and carried on south, and a second deputy laid stop sticks that punctured a rear tyre.

As the truck turned onto Howland Boulevard the pursuing deputy performed a pursuit intervention manoeuvre, forcing it to a halt in the woodline.

He refused to obey commands, and deputies reached him by phone and began a standoff that ran for about three hours.

He was confirmed to be armed and would not agree to come out peacefully, before surrendering to SWAT officers at about 8.30pm.

John Schmalz-Riedt, 65, has been charged by the sheriff's office with fleeing, and by Altamonte Springs police with second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

He is being held without bond at the Volusia County Branch Jail, having been booked on charges brought by both forces.

The response drew in patrol deputies, SWAT, negotiators, dog handlers, drone operators, an armoured vehicle and the sheriff's helicopter.

(Joe Golder/Clipzilla/NX)

Video

Bodycam footage shows Volusia County deputies pursuing and using a PIT maneuver on a pickup driven by an armed homicide suspect before a roughly three-hour standoff ended with his surrender in Volusia County, Florida, August 23, 2026.***Video Licence Restrictions: NONE/UNLIMITED. This video is from our emergency services partner – for details of our ‘emergency services’ licence see https://newsx.agency/licences/ For terms visit: https://newsx.media/terms-conditions/© Clipzilla/NX

Editorial team

  • Joseph Golderspotter · journalist · senior writer · sub editor · news editor
  • Dushko Kochoskicommission editor · copychecker editor · illustrator
  • Aloysius Fernandesvideo editor
K1VPEmergencyPersuit/chase