Felons fleeing from local law enforcement were busted when they crashed on a dead end street in Central Florida.
A vehicle that was recently captured in southeast Winter Haven after it crashed on a dead end street had fled officers in Auburndale and Lake Wales, according to law enforcement.
The fleeing black Nissan Rogue first fled from an Auburndale Police traffic stop and was then located by Lake Wales Police. They also attempted a traffic stop, and again, the Nissan Rogue sped away.
The driver of the Nissan had exhibited reckless behavior, and a pursuit was deemed too risky, according to local law enforcement.
Meanwhile, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Aviation unit was well above the Nissan and tracking its every move, waiting for the perfect opportunity.
That opportunity came when the Nissan turned onto Eloise Oak Drive, which is a dead end street.
Aviation notified Polk County Sheriff’s Office patrol units, who blocked the exit. When the driver of the Nissan realized the street was a dead end, he turned the car around and tried to head for the exit, but saw the patrol cars blocking his way.
The driver put the car in reverse, backed-up quickly, and lost control of the car. The Nissan struck two mailboxes and a palm tree.
The occupants bailed out of the car and fled on foot. They damaged a fence while trying to jump over it, and the pair was captured in a cow pasture.
Deputies recovered several bags of marijuana and about $1,600 in cash.
The driver was identified as 23-year-old Donald Gatlin III, of Lake Wales. His passenger was 23-year-old Alarion Herring, of Lake Wales.
Donald Gatlin was charged with: Occupied unarmed burglary, Flee/elude LEO, KDWLSR, leaving the scene of a crash (x2), resisting w/o violence, trespass farm land with cattle, break fence with cattle contained inside.
Alarion Herring was charged with: Occupied unarmed burglary, resisting without violence, trespass farm land with cattle, break fence with cattle contained inside.
Additional drug charges were expected from the PCSO, plus charges from Lake Wales Police Department.
