A 24-year-old Wildwood man was arrested after he crashed his vehicle into a tree following a high-speed pursuit.
On Sunday, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office corporal was conducting traffic control in a marked patrol car near the 7300 block of SE 92nd Loop in Belleview. According to the MCSO report, the corporal observed a gold Chevrolet sedan that was traveling 72 miles per hour in a 50 miles per hour zone.
The corporal conducted a U-turn and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The sedan’s driver, later identified as Jovon Davonta Baron, refused to stop and made a right turn onto County Road 25.
The patrol car’s emergency lights and siren were activated, and Baron accelerated towards the intersection of SE 92nd Court. He drove through a red light and turned left onto SE 92nd Court.
The corporal continued to pursue Baron as he turned left onto SE 109th Lane. While attempting to navigate a curve in the road, Baron lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree that was located in front of a residence in the 10900 block of SE 90th Court. Immediately after the crash, he climbed into the back seat of the sedan.
An MCSO deputy arrived on scene and approached a 16-year-old girl who was in the passenger’s seat. She told the deputy that Baron had mentioned that he did not want to go back to jail.
The passenger was transported to a local hospital due to abdominal pain that she sustained from the crash.
Baron was barefoot when he stepped out of the sedan, and red shoes were found near the pedals on the driver’s side of the vehicle. He admitted to an MCSO sergeant that he was the driver of the vehicle and he took full responsibility for everything that occurred.
Baron was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $12,500 bond. He is facing felony charges for fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer at high speeds and child neglect without great bodily harm, along with a misdemeanor charge for operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.