The Titusville Police Department released in-car camera footage Wednesday morning providing new context into a Dec. 12 traffic stop that escalated into a pursuit and resulted in the death of a Mims man.

The video release comes two days after TPD administration concluded an internal review, which determined that officers followed all department policies during the incident.

The Initial Stop
According to investigative reports, the incident began at approximately 8:08 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12. A Titusville police officer attempted to stop a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu for speeding and failing to maintain a lane on Deleon Avenue near Sycamore Street.

Commander Tyler Wright stated in a news release that the driver, identified as Darrius Bentley, 35, initially appeared to comply with the officer. Bentley slowed down and signaled as if pulling over before coming to a stop on Cora Avenue.

Police Pursuit That Led to Fatal Crash Cleared of Policy Violations

However, as the officer exited the patrol vehicle to approach the Malibu, Bentley reportedly shifted the car into reverse. The Malibu struck the front of the patrol vehicle before Bentley sped away from the scene, disregarding emergency lights and sirens.

The Pursuit and Crash
Titusville Police pursued the vehicle southbound, deploying two separate sets of “stop sticks”—tire deflation devices—along the route. While the devices successfully deflated the Malibu’s tires, investigators say Bentley continued to accelerate.

The pursuit ended three minutes after it began. At approximately 8:11 p.m., Bentley lost control of the vehicle while navigating a sharp curve near the intersection of Barna Avenue and Nicklaus Drive.

The vehicle left the roadway and struck a palm tree, a fence, and a sign. The impact was severe enough to split the palm tree, according to eyewitness accounts.

Investigation and Transparency
Bentley was transported to Parrish Medical Center, where he was later pronounced deceased.

While TPD has cleared its officers of policy violations regarding the pursuit itself, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is conducting an independent investigation into the mechanics of the crash.

Titusville Man Killed After Crashing While Fleeing Police

“In the interest of transparency, the Titusville Police Department is releasing a portion of the in-car camera video,” the department stated Wednesday. Officials noted the footage is intended to provide the community with additional context regarding the rapid escalation of the event.

Public Records: Individuals seeking additional records related to this case may submit a formal request via email to policerecords@titusville.com.