A man is confronting multiple charges after attempting to evade several deputies during a traffic stop, crashing his truck, and then trying to flee the area, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred around 11:45 p.m. on Monday in the vicinity of 78th Street and Rideout Road in the Palm River-Clair Mel area. Deputies reported that they initiated a traffic stop on a black pickup truck.
The driver, identified as 26-year-old Angelo Juan Pedrosa, evaded deputies and crashed on Rideout Road. When deputies located the truck, Pedrosa had vanished, and the truck was found empty.
The HCSO aviation unit, airborne at the time, managed to spot a man resembling Pedrosa walking “rapidly” southbound on 78th Street.
Aerial footage released by the sheriff’s office depicts Pedrosa walking along the road before deputies located and apprehended him without further incident.
Pedrosa is now charged with felony fleeing to elude, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, and driving with a license that is canceled, suspended, or revoked.
The sheriff’s office utilized Pedrosa’s arrest as a reminder that in the event of a crash, individuals should remain at the scene.
“It is never a good idea to leave the scene of a crash,” Sheriff Chad Chronister stated in a statement. “Our deputies will find you, and it will go worse for you when charged for your crimes. Do the right thing. Don’t run.”
