A man was arrested Thursday after leading authorities on a chase through St. Petersburg that ended with him driving his vehicle into a pond, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
At 1:11 a.m., an FHP trooper was patrolling east on 22nd Avenue North at 31st Street North when he clocked a driver heading west at 58 mph, above the posted 40 mph speed zone.
According to an arrest report, the trooper followed the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop on 22nd Avenue North near 41st Street North, but the driver continued to flee.
The trooper followed the vehicle east to where the road changed to 20th Avenue North.
The driver of the vehicle, later identified as 26-year-old Nycolye Carrion, continued driving recklessly as he approached the intersection of 38th Street North, where he failed to stop at a stop sign, the arrest report states.
Colliding with the east curb of 38th Street North, the vehicle then crashed into a pond. Carrion promptly exited the vehicle, according to the arrest report, and began swimming away before fleeing on foot.
Body camera video shows the moment the vehicle crashed into a pond. Immediately after, the shirtless driver can be seen climbing onto the roof of the submerged vehicle before appearing to jump belly-first into the water.
Officers with the St. Petersburg Police Department also responded to the area as backup.
According to the report, following a pursuit on foot, one of the SPPD officers was able to apprehend Carrion, tackling him to the ground before placing him in handcuffs.
The report also notes that at the time of his arrest, “Carrion was soaking wet, profusely sweating, and now only wearing his underwear.”
Nyson was also wearing an ankle monitor and, was out on bond for a felony battery case, the report said.
Carrion is charged with reckless driving causing property damage, aggravated fleeing and eluding, driving while license is suspended, leaving the scene of a crash, and resisting arrest without violence.
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Source: Wfla
