Woman Rammed Trooper During Pursuit in Seminole County | Florida Highway Patrol

Описание: On January 7, 2024, I, Trooper Flores, was conducting speed enforcement on westbound Interstate 4 (State Road 400) near mile marker 94 in Seminole County, Florida. I observed a silver-colored vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. I visually estimated the speed to be approximately 100 miles per hour in a posted 60 miles per hour speed zone. My state-issued Stalker Dual DSR 2X S/N KR048062 obtained a target speed reading of 103 miles per hour with a steady Doppler audio tone.

I was operating a fully-marked, authorized Florida Highway Patrol vehicle with agency insignia and other jurisdictional markings prominently displayed on the vehicle. I was wearing a full Florida Highway Patrol uniform, displaying a metal state trooper badge, and wearing a black duty belt. During the overtake, I observed the vehicle weaving in and out of lanes at a high rate of speed. I activated my emergency lights and sirens to conduct a lawful traffic stop on the vehicle, which displayed Florida tag AJ72MM. The vehicle began to make evasive maneuvers and travel at a high rate of speed. It exited Interstate 4 and traveled east on State Road 414. The vehicle continued at a high speed in a clear attempt to evade contact, demonstrating a willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property.

The vehicle traveled onto US 17-92, ultimately making a U-turn, then traveling west on US 17-92. The vehicle veered right onto the on-ramp to State Road 414 westbound, where I saw the driver throw a can containing liquids out of the driver-side window. The vehicle made a right turn onto Maitland Avenue, then attempted to make a U-turn. At this point, I performed the Precision Immobilization Technique (P.I.T.). The vehicle spun counter-clockwise and ended up facing south, while my patrol vehicle was facing north, directly in front of the suspect vehicle. As I exited my patrol vehicle, the driver of the vehicle looked directly at me and ignored my verbal orders. The driver drove her vehicle at a high rate of speed directly towards me, placing me in imminent fear of great bodily injury or death. The front left of her vehicle collided with my patrol vehicle's driver-side door. I was pinned between my driver's side door and the door frame of my vehicle.

The violator then fled the scene of the collision at a high rate of speed without performing the duties required by law. I was injured in the collision and developed immediate pain in my knee. I again began to overtake the vehicle south on Maitland Avenue. The driver was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and ultimately crashed her vehicle into a business. I ordered the driver out of the vehicle and instructed her to lay on the ground. I then placed the driver under arrest and secured her in metal handcuffs that were double-locked and checked for tightness.

Upon a query of the vehicle, I identified the registered owner as the driver, LATOYA NICOLE BEDFORD. An additional query on the Driver and Vehicle Information Database (DAVID) determined Ms. Bedford was suspended as of 10/25/2023, with notice provided on 10/10/2023.

During a search of the vehicle subject to arrest and tow, Trooper Malave (Radio ID 1219) located brass knuckles with a spring-assisted knife. The weapon was located in the driver's side door.

Ms. Bedford was transported by ambulance to Advent Health Altamonte Springs. Ms. Bedford was cleared by doctors of any injuries. After Ms. Bedford was discharged from the hospital, she was interviewed by Florida Highway Patrol’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence. After the interview, Trooper Brule and I transported Ms. Bedford to the Seminole County Jail for booking.

CHARGES:
1. 2nd DEGREE FELONY - 316.1935(4)(A) - AGGRAVATED FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE CAUSING INJURY TO LEO.
2. 2nd DEGREE FELONY - 316.027(2)(B) - LEAVING THE SCENE OF A CRASH RESULTING IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY.
3. 2nd DEGREE FELONY - 784.045(1)(A)(2) - AGGRAVATED BATTERY
4. 3rd DEGREE FELONY - 316.192(3)(C)(2) - RECKLESS DRIVING CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY.
5. 1st DEGREE MISDEMEANOR - 322.34(2)(B) - DRIVING WHILE LICENSE CANC, SUSP OR REV WITH ONE PRIOR.
6. INFRACTIONS - 316.187(2)(A) - UNLAWFUL SPEED
7. INFRACTIONS - 316.646(1) - NO PROOF OF INSURANCE

CASE STATUS: ACTIVE - NO BOND