[PHOTO CREDITS: Provided]
[Original Publish Date: 08/27/20]
DELAND, Florida — A man who was driving a stolen 2020 Dodge Durango R/T he claimed he rented from Craigslist, fled from law enforcement officers Tuesday illegally passing numerous vehicles from one end of Lake County to the other and finally stopping in neighboring Volusia County after Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputies deployed stop sticks, according to a report.
LCSO dispatch received a call from a tracking company concerning a vehicle stolen from Orange County it had been tracking for about three hours, and said the vehicle was on Johns Lake Road in Clermont. Clermont Police attempted to stop the vehicle and it fled, the report states, law enforcement did not pursue the vehicle, according to a report.
The Durango, being driven by a man later identified as Juan Jose Trevino, 37, of Sanford, was observed traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 27 driving recklessly past several deputies and then speeding northbound on Florida’s Turnpike. LCSO’s helicopter, Eagle One located the Durango exiting Florida’s Turnpike onto County Road 470 in the Okahumpka/Leesburg area. Trevino turned northbound onto to County Road 33 and fled from another attempted traffic stop at County Road 33 and U.S. Highway 27, the report states.
Trevino fled down U.S. Highway 27 and Eagle One watched the Durango turn onto Dixie Avenue in Leesburg before heading southbound on U.S. Highway 441. Trevino traveled several miles until reaching the intersection of Lakes Boulevard, just south of Lake Square Mall where Trevino saw a deputy waiting, ready to deploy stop sticks. Trevino made a U-turn, avoided the deputy and traveled northbound on U.S. Highway 441 for a short time before turning onto Radio Road; an LCSO deputy followed Trevino and watched him turn on Treadway School Road and then County Road 473, before losing sight of him, the report states. Eagle One saw the Durango turn onto Northern Avenue and then South Haines Creek Road in the Bassville Park area and a deputy passed it at the intersection of South Haines Creek Road and Moore Street.
The Durango turned on County Road 473 and drove to County Road 44, where it turned eastbound and passed multiple vehicles in no-passing zones and ran a red light at Forest Drive, near Mid-Florida Lakes mobile home community, according to the report. The Durango continued to State Road 19, where deputies again attempted to deploy stop sticks, but the Durango was apparently able to go around them and turn northbound on State Road 19, near Burger King and 7-Eleven.
Trevino continued driving the Durango northbound on State Road 19 through Umatilla until he turned eastbound on County Road 42, again speeding, and passing numerous vehicles in no-passing zones. LCSO attempted to deploy stop sticks for a third time near the community of Lake Kathryn and the Durango dodged them and turned eastbound on State Road 44 and entered Volusia County.
At least two Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to deploy stop sticks, according to the report, and one was successful, flattening the right front tire and Trevino finally came to a stop at State Road 44 and Old New York Avenue in DeLand.
Trevino and a female passenger, Jasmine Mott, of Winter Park were taken into custody. Mott, who Trevino said begged him to stop, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of Xanax and possession of drug paraphernalia. She is being held in the Volusia County Jail on $5,500 bond.
Trevino told LCSO he rented the SUV, valued at more than $40,000, for $300 for 30 days on Craigslist, but did not know who he rented it from, and he did not have a receipt, the report states. The tag on the Durango was not the assigned tag, a deputy noted in the report. He later said, “Like I told you I rented it from a guy in Winter Park,” the report states.
Trevino told deputies he ran because his license is suspended, and he did not want to go to jail; he currently has more than 10 active license suspensions. Trevino was placed in an LCSO patrol car, where he began kicking and banging his head, resulting in a minor cut on his jaw. He was placed in a four-point restraint and EMS responded to treat his injury, the report states. Trevino said he was diabetic and was not taking his medication properly, causing him to feel light-headed. He was transported to AdventHealth DeLand for treatment. He is facing charges of grand theft auto, fleeing and eluding and driving on a suspended license. Trevino’s booking information was unavailable at press time.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
