Staff Report
HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. – A 39-year-old man, Maurice Marko Shuler, found himself in custody yesterday after allegedly evading a traffic stop and presenting a false identity to law enforcement.
Just after noon on November 6, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to stop a vehicle sporting an expired registration. Upon checking the vehicle’s records, it was discovered that it belonged to a woman, but Maurice Shuler was linked to her. Furthermore, the driver’s photo matched that of Shuler, who had an outstanding warrant for unpaid child support and a revoked license due to the same issue.
The deputy engaged the driver on U.S. Hwy 441 near the 16900 block. Although the driver glanced at the deputy via the side mirror, he continued on, adhering to speed limits and traffic regulations. He eventually turned into the Oak Ridge subdivision and stopped in a driveway over a mile from the initial stop location.
Upon contact, the driver provided a license bearing the name Marcus Leon Shuler, matching the address where he had halted, but featuring Maurice Shuler’s picture. When questioned about the expired tag, Shuler allegedly claimed the car was not his and expressed reluctance to stop roadside.
When the deputy inquired if “Marcus” knew a Maurice Shuler, he reportedly denied knowing anyone by that name. A database search revealed a different individual associated with the license, depicting a man with a slimmer face and full hair, residing in Leesburg. The deputy noted this image bore no resemblance to Maurice.
The deputy detained Shuler, checked his real name for warrants, and found that Maurice had two active child support warrants out of Alachua and Lake counties and that his driver’s license had been revoked six times and suspended three times.
A Florida Highway Patrol Trooper arrived with a Rapid ID kit and tried to obtain fingerprints from Shuler, but Shuler allegedly balled up his hands into fists and refused to be fingerprinted; he reportedly said he did not consent to be fingerprinted, so they should take him to jail. The deputy took Shuler into custody.
An inventory of the vehicle prior to towing reportedly produced a band card and an employee identification card in the name of Maurice Shuler.
At the jail, Shuler allegedly refused to be fingerprinted or photographed, and he refused to sign the citations that were presented to him for the traffic violations.
Shuler has been charged with fleeing from law enforcement with lights and sirens active, possession of a forged identification card, resisting an officer without violence, driving with a revoked license, and refusing to sign a citation. He has one felony conviction (violent) and three misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2009. He has an active warrant out of Gadsden County for driving with a revoked license. Judge Jonathan Ramsey set bail at $40,000, and he owes $3,070 in child support.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
