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Friday, March 29, 2024

Orlando woman arrested after high-speed chase ends at Ocala Drive-In

A 22-year-old Orlando woman was arrested after leading a deputy on a high-speed chase that ended at the Ocala Drive-In Theatre.

On Thursday, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy was conducting a patrol of the 6000 block of S Highway 441 when a radio dispatch advised that a silver sedan was speeding in the area.

The deputy soon observed the sedan traveling northbound on S Highway 441 at a speed of around 120 miles per hour and a Belleview Police Department officer was in close pursuit.

After activating the patrol car’s lights and siren, the deputy joined the pursuit. The sedan continued to drive on S Highway 441 at speeds exceeding 115 miles per hour.

The sedan eventually turned westbound into the Ocala Drive-In Theater located at 4850 S Highway 441.

The sedan came to a stop, and the driver and sole occupant was identified as Ashley Kimberly Richard. She was ordered to step outside the vehicle and was secured in handcuffs.

Orlando woman arrested after high speed chase ends at Ocala Drive In
Ashley Kimberly Richard

A search of her vehicle revealed a traffic citation written earlier in the day by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for unknowingly operating a vehicle with a suspended license.

The deputy searched her driver’s license in the computer and found that it was suspended on October 11 due to unpaid fines and failure to attend a driver improvement course.

The license plate attached to the sedan was not assigned to the vehicle. A check of the sedan’s Vehicle Identification Number showed that the vehicle was not currently registered with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

The MCSO report indicated that Richard kept kicking the patrol car’s door. She refused to stop kicking the door and had to be placed in foot restraints.

Richard was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where she is currently being held on $12,500 bond. She is facing a felony charge for fleeing a law enforcement officer along with misdemeanor charges for driving with a suspended license, resisting an officer, and failing to register a motor vehicle.

A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.