A 19-year-old Ocala man was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office after he fled from a deputy who saw him run a stop sign.
On Tuesday morning, at approximately 5 a.m., the MCSO deputy was patrolling Marion Oaks Boulevard in Ocala when a white Hyundai sedan in the area failed to stop for the stop sign at the intersection of Marion Oaks Boulevard and Marion Oaks Lane, according to the arrest report.
The deputy noted in the report that the sedan traveled northbound on Marion Oaks Boulevard. When the deputy attempted to catch up to the sedan, the driver – later identified as Christian Medina – turned off all the vehicle’s lights and accelerated at a high rate of speed.
Medina turned east onto W Highway 484, and the deputy caught up to the sedan near the 3200 block of W Highway 484. The deputy activated the patrol car’s emergency lights and siren, and Medina continued to travel at a high rate of speed, according to the MCSO report.
The sedan turned northbound onto Interstate 75, and Medina quickly accelerated while his vehicle’s lights remained off. The deputy eventually lost sight of the sedan and the pursuit was canceled.
Later that evening, at approximately 6:50 p.m., the deputy responded to the 17200 block of SW 39th Circle in Ocala in reference to the pursuit involving Medina. Upon arrival at the residence, the deputy observed the vehicle that Medina had been driving, according to the MCSO report.
The deputy made contact with Medina’s mother who is the registered owner of the sedan. She told the deputy that Medina was driving the vehicle to work at approximately 5 a.m., and she added that Medina is the only person who drives the vehicle.
After the deputy explained the incident to Medina’s mother, she contacted Medina and advised him to come home for an interview. The deputy noted in the report that Medina arrived at the residence and was “visibly upset.”
After being read his Miranda rights, Medina admitted that he was driving the vehicle when he “rolled through” the stop sign. He told the deputy that he was nervous when the patrol car pulled behind him, according to the MCSO report.
Medina told the deputy, “I have been having a rough week,” and he admitted to fleeing from the deputy at a high rate of speed. The MCSO report stated that Medina was “so nervous” that he did not go to work that morning, and he stated that he came home and thought about selling the vehicle.
During the post-Miranda interview, Medina stated multiple times that he was sorry and had made a mistake. He told the deputy, “Just take me,” according to the MCSO report.
Medina was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $2,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer with lights and siren active.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.