Darrell Bailey, 43, of Mulberry, intentionally swallowed a baggie of meth while deputies attempted to serve a warrant on him for failing to register as a convicted sex offender, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

MULBERRY — A 43-year-old Mulberry man was arrested for aggravated assault on deputies after he drove his car toward them while fleeing arrest, according to Polk County Sheriff's Office reports.

In a news release, the PCSO reported that the incident occurred Wednesday in Mulberry, when deputies tried to stop Darrell Bailey's gray Dodge Ram pickup because he had a warrant for failing to register as a convicted sex offender.

When a deputy spotted Bailey around 5:35 p.m. and tried to stop him in a Church Avenue business parking lot, Bailey made a U-turn, drove through the parking lot and headed west on Shepherd Road, according to his arrest affidavit.

A deputy tried a P.I.T. (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver on the pickup truck, causing it to spin. Deputies report that Bailey then regained control and drove the truck at an occupied patrol car, narrowly missing it.

At the end of Godwin Street, Bailey drove over a fence, struck a shed and came to a stop, at which point he was arrested, the PCSO said.

According to reports, Bailey told deputies that he fled because he thought he had warrants for his arrest and he was in possession of methamphetamine, adding that he intentionally swallowed the baggie of meth so it would not be found.

During the investigation, deputies reported Bailey was found to be in possession of alprazolam and drug paraphernalia.

Bailey faces multiple felony charges, including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing to elude, tampering with evidence, criminal mischief over $1,000 and various drug charges. He also was charged with a misdemeanor for driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Kathy Leigh Berkowitz can be reached at kberkowitz@theledger.com or at 863-802-7558. Follow her on Twitter @kberkowitzthel1.