A 28-year-old man and 24-year-old woman are behind bars after they allegedly stole a car at a Wawa gas station in Ocala and led a police officer on a high-speed chase.
On Sunday, January 28, at around 10:50 p.m., a victim contacted the Ocala Police Department and advised that their car had been stolen from the Wawa located on W Silver Springs Boulevard, according to OPD.
The police department stated on social media that the stolen car was later spotted by an OPD officer near the 2100 block of W Silver Springs Boulevard. The vehicle fled from the officer, reaching speeds of over 60 miles per hour.
The chase came to an end when the car crashed through a fence in the 700 block of SW 24th Avenue.
The stolen vehicle’s two occupants, later identified as Jahaziel Rosell Velez Olmo and Karlamaris Irizarry Rivera, headed on foot into the nearby woods, according to OPD.
With help from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Air-1 unit, an OPD officer and his K-9 partner located Velez Olmo and Irizarry Rivera in the woods. According to OPD, Irizarry Rivera was identified as the driver of the stolen vehicle and Velez Olmo was a passenger.
After both suspects were treated for their injuries, they were placed under arrest and transported to Marion County Jail.
Velez Olmo is currently being held at the jail on $8,000 bond. He is being charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle and resisting an officer without violence.
Irizarry Rivera is currently being held at the jail on $11,000 bond. She is facing the following charges: grand theft of a motor vehicle, resisting an officer without violence, fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer with disregard to safety of persons/property, possession of a controlled substance (MDPV), and operating a motor vehicle without a valid license.
On Tuesday, February 27, Velez Olmo and Irizarry Rivera are both scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m., according to jail records.