| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: SETTLES, KATHERINE 0113 (AR08102302) DID OPERATE A VEHICLE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND, HAVING KNOWLEDGE THAT HE/SHE HAD BEEN DIRECTED TO STOP SUCH VEHICLE BY A DULY AUTHORIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, DID WILLFULLY REFUSE OR FAIL TO STOP SUCH VEHICLE IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH DIRECTIVE, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE 316.1935(1), AND DID OPERATE A VEHICLE UPON THE STREETS OR HIGHWAYS WITHIN THE STATE WITHOUT DRIVING THE SAME IN A CAREFUL AND PRUDENT MANNER, HAVING NO REGARD FOR THE WIDTH, GRADE, CURVES, CORNERS, TRAFFIC, AND ALL OTHER ATTENDANT CIRCUMSTANCES, SO AS NOT TO ENDANGER THE LIFE, LIMB, OR PROPERTY OF ANY PERSON IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE 316.1925(1). ON 032308 AT APPROXIMATELY 0033 HOURS, THIS OFFICER WAS TRAVELING WEST BOUND ON GULF TO LAKE JUST COMING UP ON NORTH EAST 7TH AVENUE, WHEN I OBSERVED AND HEARD A LARGE WHITE PICKUP COMING NORTH BOUND ONTO HIGHWAY 44, SLIDING SIDEWAYS. THIS OFFICER ACCELERATED MY VEHICLE TO KEEP THE TRUCK FROM HITTING IT, AT WHICH TIME THE WHITE TRUCK SPUN IN A 360, TURNING ITS DIRECTION TO WHERE IT WAS FACING EAST ON HIGHWAY 44. UPON STOPPING MY VEHICLE AND WHILE TURNING TOWARD THE EAST WITH MY VEHICLE, I OBSERVED THAT ANOTHER PASSING VEHICLE HAD STOPPED ON WEST GULF TO LAKE SO THAT HE ALSO WOULD NOT BE HIT BY THE WHITE TRUCK AS IT CAME ONTO HIGHWAY 44. AS I TURNED MY PATROL VEHICLE INTO AN EASTERLY DIRECTION, I TURNED ON MY OVERHEAD LIGHTS, AT WHICH TIME THE WHITE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS SQUEALING ITS TIRES, WENT NORTH ON NORTH EAST 7TH AVENUE AND MADE AN IMMEDIATE LEFT BEHIND A BUILDING AND ANOTHER IMMEDIATE RIGHT ONTO NORTH EAST 7TH AVENUE. AS THIS OFFICER PURSUED THE VEHICLE, I ADVISED DISPATCH I WAS IN PURSUIT OF A WHITE PICKUP. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED DOWN NORTH EAST 7TH AVENUE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, TURNING RIGHT ONTO CRYSTAL STREET, LOSING CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES, WHERE HE SLID OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON BOTH SIDES WHILE TRAVELING EAST. THE VEHICLE THEN MADE AN IMMEDIATE LEFT HAND TURN ONTO NORTH EAST 8TH AVENUE AND HAD SPUN THE VEHICLE AROUND IN ANOTHER 360 DEGREES SO THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOW FACING CRYSTAL STREET AND THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SIDEWALK. ONCE PLACING MY PATROL VEHICLE IN VIEW OF THE TRUCK AND WHILE WAITING ON BACK UP, OVER MY PA I INSTRUCTED THE SUSPECT TO PLACE HIS HANDS WHERE THEY COULD BE SEEN, WHICH HE DID COMPLY WITH. ONCE BACKUP ARRIVED, THE SUSPECT WAS SECURED HANDCUFFED (DOUBLE LOCKED), AND PLACED IN THE REAR OF MY PATROL VEHICLE. WHILE SPEAKING WITH THE SUBJECT, I ASKED IF HE HAD HAD ANY ALCOHOL TO DRINK OR TAKEN ANY DRUGS THAT WOULD AFFECT HIS DRIVING. HE ADVISED HE HAD HAD A FEW BEERS WHILE PLAYING POOL. WHEN I ASKED HIM WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS VEHICLE WHEN HE GOT ON HIGHWAY 44, HE ADVISED THAT HE MISSED HIS TURN AND NEVER SAW THIS OFFICER OR THE OTHER VEHICLE WHICH HE ALMOST HIT. WHEN I INQUIRED WHY HE DID NOT STOP ONCE I ACTIVATED MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND SIRENS, HE ADVISED HE NEVER SAW THEM. THE DEFENDANT WAS VERY APOLOGETIC AND VERY COOPERATIVE. THE DEFENDANT WAS CITED FOR CARELESS DRIVING, TICKET 2296BLK6, AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE DEFENDANT'S BOND WAS SET AT $1,500.00 PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. THE DEFENDANT'S VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY ALL PRESTIGE AND A TOW SHEET WAS COMPLETED. *NOT-EXEMPT* |
