| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: WHITSEL, MICK - FHP5671 (AR15-13913) DID OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE ON THE ROADWAYS OR HIGHWAYS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA WITH WILLFUL AND WANTON DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF PERSONS OR PROPERTY; TO WIT: THE DEFENDANT WAS DRIVING A 2000 WHITE MAZDA PICKUP TRUCK AND DID HIT THE VICTIM'S VEHICLE, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUE 316.192(1)(A) DID UNLAWFULLY, ACTUALLY AND INTENTIONALLY TOUCH OR STRIKE THE VICTIM AGAINST HIS WILL OR INTENTIONALLY CAUSE BODILY HARM TO SAID PERSON, AND IN THE COMMISSION OF THE BATTERY THE DEFENDANT DID USE A DEADLY WEAPON, TO WIT: A 2000 WHITE MAZDA PICKUP TRUCK, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE NUMBER 784.045.1.A.2. DID UNLAWFULLY, WILLFULLY AND MALICIOUSLY INJURE OR DAMAGE CERTAIN PROPERTY OF THE VICTIM, TO-WIT: RIGHT REAR OF THE WHITE 2007 INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT TRUCK, SAID DAMAGE BEING OF A VALUE OF $200.00 OR LESS, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATUTES 806.13(1)(A) AND 806.13(1)(B)1. I WAS DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE OF A CRASH LOCATED AT U S HIGHWAY 19 AND CORNFLOWER, BY THE BARGE CANAL BRIDGE. UPON MY ARRIVAL I MET WITH THE DEFENDANT, MR MICHAEL J TRAMS. MICHAEL ADVISED HE WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON U S HIGHWAY 19 AND A BIG TRUCK ALMOST RAN HIM OFF THE ROAD AS HE WAS COMING DOWN THE BRIDGE IN THE RIGHT LANE. MICHAEL ADVISED THAT THE TRUCK SWERVED OVER AND HIT HIS TRUCK IN THE LEFT FRONT. AT THAT TIME IT CAUSED HIM TO LOOSE CONTROL AND RUN OFF THE ROAD INTO THE MEDIAN. MICHAEL'S TRUCK WAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NORTHBOUND LANE OF U S HIGHWAY 19 FACING EAST. I MET WITH THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED, MR THOMAS GLEN SARTELL. THOMAS WAS DRIVING A WHITE 2007 INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT TRUCK CARRYING CLEAR PLASTIC DRUMS CONTAINING AN UNKNOWN TYPE LIQUID. THOMAS ADVISED WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON U S HIGHWAY 19, COMING DOWN THE BARGE CANAL BRIDGE IN THE RIGHT LANE, A WHITE MAZDA PICKUP TRUCK CAME UP FROM BEHIND AND CAME ALONG SIDE IN THE EMERGENCY LANE TO HIS RIGHT. THOMAS ADVISED THE WHITE TRUCK STARTED COMING OVER TOWARD HIM, FORCING HIM TO MOVE OVER TO THE LEFT LANE. ONCE THOMAS GOT TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THE BRIDGE HE MOVED OVER TO THE LEFT TURN LANE AND STOPPED. AT THAT TIME THE WHITE MAZDA PICKUP TRUCK STARTED DRIVING CIRCLES AROUND HIS TRUCK AND STOPPED IN FRONT OF HIM, BLOCKING HIM FROM GOING ANY FURTHER. THE WHITE MAZDA THEN BACKED UP OUT OF THE WAY AND THOMAS MOVED FORWARD TO LEAVE. ONCE HE GOT PAST THE MAZDA, THE DRIVER INTENTIONALLY MOVED FORWARD AND STRUCK THE RIGHT REAR OF HIS TRUCK. THOMAS ADVISED HE KEPT GOING SOUTH ON U S HIGHWAY 19 ABOUT A HALF MILE AND PULLED OVER ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND STOPPED. MR THOMAS'S RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER, MR BOYD L ABTEY, TOOK VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT SHOWING THE WHITE MAZDA'S ACTIONS. AFTER SEEING THE VIDEO MR MICHAEL TRAMS WAS ARRESTED FOR RECKLESS DRIVING, AGGRAVATED BATTERY WITH DEADLY WEAPON, AND CRIMINAL MISCHIEF. MICHAEL WAS PLACED IN THE REAR SEAT OF MY PATROL VEHICLE. ADAMS TOWING WAS CALLED TO TAKE CUSTODY OF THE WHITE 2000 MAZDA PICKUP TRUCK. ONCE ADAMS TOWING ARRIVED AND TOOK CUSTODY OF THE TRUCK, THE DEFENDANT, MR MICHAEL TRAMS, WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY FOR BOOKING AND PROCESSING. THE DEFENDANT'S BOND WAS SET AT $11,000.00 TOTAL BOND ALL CHARGES. |
