A 33-year-old Jacksonville man was arrested after leading a police officer on a high-speed chase in south Ocala.
On Sunday, January 9, shortly after 2:15 a.m., an Ocala Police Department officer responded to the Wawa located at 1001 S Pine Avenue in Ocala in reference to a fight in progress.
Upon arrival, the officer observed a white Ford Transit van exit the gas station parking lot and turn eastbound on SW 10th Street. The officer indicated in the OPD report that the van was speeding.
The driver of the van, later identified as Wael Srarfi, was suspected of allegedly striking another person in the face with a beer bottle at Wawa. The officer activated the patrol car’s lights and sirens and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
According to the OPD report, Srarfi refused to stop and turned right onto S Magnolia Avenue. He continued southbound at speeds that exceeded 90 miles per hour.
Srarfi passed another vehicle in a 35 miles per hour zone as he attempted to get away from the officer. He lost control of the van and it traveled southbound into the oncoming northbound lane.
Srarfi reached the intersection of SW 17th Street and attempted to re-enter the southbound lane. The van struck the high-rise median that divided the lanes, and the impact caused the driver’s side tire to deflate and separate from the rim.
The van continued southbound in the northbound lane and went through a red light at the intersection. Srarfi then lost control of the vehicle and it came to a stop near the Walgreens at the southwest corner of the intersection.
Srarfi and a passenger both exited the van, and Srarfi attempted to run around the front of Walgreens. He ignored the officer’s commands to stop.
He attempted to climb a concrete wall and the officer again commanded him to stop. The officer then used the taser on the upper part of Srarfi’s thigh.
The first charge from the taser had no effect, and the officer used a second charge on Srarfi’s other leg which caused him to fall to the ground. This gave the officer enough time to climb the wall, but Srarfi was already back on his feet.
Srarfi ran southbound on the east side of Walgreens. The officer caught up to him, grabbed his upper torso, and brought him to the ground.
After an investigation was conducted at Wawa, the victim decided not to press any charges against Srarfi. The officer also learned that Srarfi’s driver’s license was suspended.
Srarfi was arrested and transported to AdventHealth Ocala where he was medically cleared. He was then transported to Marion County Jail and later released on $5,000 bond.
He is facing a felony charge for fleeing and eluding an officer along with misdemeanor charges for resisting arrest without violence, leaving the scene of a traffic crash, and driving with a suspended license.
A court date has been scheduled on Tuesday, February 8 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.