Scooper

Police Report: On Thursday, May 23rd, 2024, at approximately 2:26 PM, I observed a black Cadillac traveling northbound on Interstate 95 (State Road 9), approaching Davie Blvd. I paced and clocked the vehicle at 80 miles per hour in a 65 mile per hour zone in the second travel lane while operating my marked FHP unit 0332. While behind the suspect vehicle, a large piece of the suspect's bumper went airborne and collided with the front of my patrol vehicle (FHP0332). Once I activated my lights and sirens, the vehicle increased its speed, and a pursuit ensued. The vehicle intentionally started to take evasive maneuvers by driving across all lanes of travel through moderate traffic. I observed the driver demonstrate a wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property. The pursuit continued as the vehicle exited and fled westbound onto State Road 84 (Marina Mile Blvd). As the pursuit continued westbound on State Road 84 (Marina Blvd) and SW 30th Ave, traffic came to a halt, causing the suspect's speed to decrease. The suspect vehicle was in the outside lane, and the driver intentionally crashed into the back of a white Nissan pickup truck to avoid capture. I attempted a P.I.T. maneuver, but the vehicle corrected itself and continued westbound on State Road 84 (Marina Mile Blvd). The vehicle then exited northbound onto US 441 (State Road 7), traveled north in the right turn lane, and intentionally crashed into the back of a silver Toyota Corolla. It continued through multiple red traffic lights at high rates of speed. The vehicle then turned eastbound onto Broward Blvd, where the driver continued to show a wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property by traveling through an active school zone with heavy traffic. I then attempted another P.I.T. maneuver, made contact with the vehicle, but it was unsuccessful. The suspect vehicle continued fleeing north on 27th Avenue and turned into the entrance of the Broward BAT, where we conducted a felony stop. The driver stayed in the vehicle after multiple commands to exit the vehicle and intentionally placed the vehicle in reverse, crashing into my patrol vehicle (FHP0332). The driver was told to exit the vehicle again and finally complied, surrendering to myself and another Broward Sheriff's officer. The driver was identified as Greta-Jiah Daise with her Florida driver's license number D200284029460, DOB 12/6/2002, and was placed under arrest. While in custody, Ms. Daise spat on the Broward Sheriff's officer. The driver was taken to Broward County Jail, where she was charged with two counts of FSS 784.045 Aggravated Battery, one count of 316.1935 Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement, and one count of Resisting Without Violence 843.02.

Police Report: I, Trooper M. Pepitone, have been employed by the Florida Highway Patrol for over 6 years. I am currently assigned to the Criminal Interdiction Unit (CIU) as a Felony Trooper. This unit consists of a canine handler, its canine, and a Felony Trooper, strategically assigned throughout the state to patrol the interstate and other highways to interdict drug couriers and other criminal activity. On February 21, 2024, I was on patrol in a fully marked Florida Highway Patrol vehicle within Escambia County. While in Escambia County, I was stationary at mile marker 1 on Interstate 10. I was facing south observing westbound traffic as it approached me. While observing traffic, I heard radio traffic from other Criminal Interdiction Units about a vehicle fleeing the area of State Road 29 near Interstate 10. Trooper Rivera and I left the median in an attempt to assist with the vehicle pursuit. As I was traveling east on Interstate 10, I overheard the suspect had eventually entered Interstate 10, traveling east toward my position. I observed the vehicle and activated my emergency lights and sirens. The vehicle exited at mile marker 5, entering 9 Mile Road northbound and actively fleeing. The vehicle made a left turn onto Pine Cone Drive, traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour. It then made a left turn onto 297A, traveling head-on with traffic. The vehicle made a right turn onto Muscogee Road and traveled northbound on U.S. 29 in the southbound lanes. The suspect vehicle made a U-turn on U.S. 29 to travel southbound in the southbound lanes. The suspect vehicle made another U-turn in a paved median to travel northbound in the northbound lanes of U.S. 29. The vehicle accelerated in excess of 100 miles per hour in and out of traffic. The suspect vehicle made a right turn onto Quintette Road until crossing U.S. 29 onto Highway 97 westbound. The suspect vehicle made a left turn onto Sunshine Hill Road and continued at high speeds before making a right turn onto Molino Road. We began to travel at high speeds again on Molino Road. I attempted to conduct a PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) on the suspect vehicle. My front right of my patrol vehicle made contact with the left rear of the suspect vehicle. During the pursuit, I identified the vehicle as an Audi sedan bearing Wisconsin license plate. After making contact with the vehicle, I was able to successfully PIT the vehicle into the ditch. At that point, the vehicle began to overturn multiple times through a ditch, coming to a final rest upright. Trooper Davis and I were able to successfully apprehend the suspect after he exited the vehicle. The sole occupant of the vehicle was the registered owner, Noel Almargo Petonguot. Due to the vehicle overturning, we called EMS for Petonguot. During the course of the PIT, while I was actively performing my duties, my patrol vehicle collided with a standing mailbox, causing damage to the rear of my patrol vehicle. Once the scene was secured, Petonguot was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital of Pensacola. Petonguot was escorted by other Troopers who remained with him at the hospital. At this time, Petonguot will remain at the hospital. During the course of the investigation, it was determined the suspect vehicle committed two hit-and-run collisions. One of the hit-and-runs occurred near the intersection of U.S. 29 and West Burgess Road. The victim’s vehicle was a white Volvo. The second hit-and-run occurred near the intersection of Pine Forest Road and West Detroit Boulevard. The vehicle involved was a gray Toyota pickup truck. Also, during the pursuit, Sergeant Davis was involved in a vehicle accident. Due to the reckless behavior and aggravated fleeing by Petonguot, multiple traffic crashes occurred. An NCIC/FCIC query on Petonguot revealed his license was suspended. Petonguot was also wanted out of Wisconsin for the following: felony warrant for disorderly conduct, criminal damage to property, felony bail jumping, false imprisonment, and stalking. Wisconsin elected not to extradite Petonguot. All events occurred in Escambia County, Florida.

Tampa, Florida - On July 7, 2023, at approximately 4:30 a.m., I was westbound on Interstate 4 at the Interstate 75 interchange. I was operating a Florida Highway Patrol unit, FHP0926, a marked black and tan Dodge Charger. A Dodge vehicle entered Interstate 4 ahead of me at a very high rate of speed and began maneuvering aggressively through traffic, using all of the westbound lanes. I started to accelerate to overtake the Dodge. Due to traffic on the main westbound lanes of Interstate 4, the Dodge used the parallel access road for US-92/US-301 to get ahead. The Dodge re-entered the main westbound lanes of Interstate 4 and continued moving aggressively through traffic. Based on the speeds necessary to maintain visual contact, I estimated the speed of the Dodge to be in excess of 100 mph in the posted 65 mph zone. The vehicle took the exit to northbound Interstate 275, and I was able to close the gap and identify the vehicle as a Dodge Durango SUV. The Dodge continued north at a very high speed. I activated my Golden Eagle II radar and received a digital display of 85 mph, which increased to 96 mph in the posted 55 mph zone. I accelerated to complete the overtake and activated my emergency blue lights and siren. The Dodge initially slowed to just over 70 mph, then accelerated away. I moved my patrol vehicle alongside the Dodge to ensure that the driver was fully aware of my attempt to stop him. I then positioned my patrol vehicle ahead of the Dodge in an attempt to guide it to the shoulder and stop. However, the Dodge managed to pass me and accelerated away. The Dodge took the exit at State Road 580, and I used the PIT maneuver to bring the pursuit to a stop. The male driver, the sole occupant of the Dodge, was secured in handcuffs. The driver provided only the name MICHAEL CRUZ and no other identifying information. CRUZ did not possess any identification. Rapid ID fingerprint scanning was unsuccessful. A DAVID search revealed the name MICHAEL MIGUEL CRUZ-SALAS with a date of birth of 05/16/2005. At the time of arrest, this was the best-known identification for the driver. SALAS was not licensed to operate a motor vehicle. During the vehicle inventory, Trooper Roberts discovered two zip-loc style clear plastic bags containing green plant material in the driver's footwell. The weight of the plant material is expected to exceed 20 grams, and additional details will be added to the Florida Highway Patrol incident report. CRUZ-SALAS claimed injury at the scene and was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital by EMS for clearance before being taken to the Hillsborough County jail. These events took place in Hillsborough County, Florida. THIS VIDEO OBTAINED VIA PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST.

On August 7, 2021, at approximately 6:54 PM, the Tallahassee Regional Communication Center (TRCC) reported to law enforcement officers that a white Toyota Corolla with a Georgia registration was fleeing from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle was confirmed to be stolen and was also reported to be involved in an armed robbery that occurred earlier in the day in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. Upon hearing this radio traffic, an FHP trooper decided to assist in overtaking the Corolla. The trooper traveled eastbound on West Tennessee Street from Franklin Boulevard toward Magnolia Road. Upon observing the Corolla, he estimated that it was traveling at a speed well in excess of the posted 45MPH zone, dangerously maneuvering in and out of traffic and nearly colliding with other motorists. The trooper activated his in-car radar unit and received an initial speed of 82MPH in the target window. The trooper observed the Corolla continuing to travel at high speeds before turning right to travel south on Blairstone Road. The trooper activated his emergency equipment to overtake and attempt to affect a traffic stop on the Corolla. The Corolla failed to stop for the trooper's fully marked FHP patrol car with emergency equipment activated. The Corolla accelerated through a solid, red, illuminated traffic light and turned left to travel eastbound on Park Avenue. After failing to stop and accelerating through the red light, the Corolla fled at a high rate of speed while traveling eastbound on Park Avenue. THIS VIDEO OBTAINED VIA PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST.

On December 8, 2022, at approximately 1600 HRS, a traffic stop was initiated by the Florida Highway Patrol troopers at a gas station parking lot (4404 Fairbanks Ferry Road) near the intersection of Concord Road and Fairbanks Ferry Road. The stopped vehicle was a grey Nissan. During the stop, the driver attempted to flee at high speed while the trooper approached the vehicle. A pursuit ensued, and the assisting trooper executed a PIT maneuver, causing the suspect's vehicle to spin and roll over into a ditch. THIS VIDEO WAS OBTAINED THROUGH PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST.

On July 5, 2023, at approximately 00:49 hours, police officers responded to a call for service regarding an incident involving a gun in Eustis, Florida. THIS VIDEO OBTAINED VIA PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST.