A Lehigh Acres man is among a trio arrested during the Florida Highway Patrol's takedown of a large street takeover event near Orlando International Airport on May 11.
Troopers said multiple others, including spectators of the street race that involved drivers from across the state, were issued citations.
Newly released dashcam video from FHP shows the moments troopers moved to block Hazeltine National Drive and TPC Boulevard.
Cars can be seen swerving around troopers and driving over medians to avoid arrest.
“As they’re running, we try as much as possible to apprehend those we can get to," said Trooper Migdalisis Garcia.
"As they’re fleeing, you’re putting these people’s lives at risk, other motorists on the roadway that are just in the area, so crashes are happening."
Two collisions with troopers occurred, and two subsequent arrests of drivers were made:
- Christopher Sanchez Ciprian, 21, of Lake Mary
- Dominick Rios, 19, of Lehigh Acres
Both ran into FHP troopers who had maneuvered their cars to block the road.
"We were lucky that, in this case, there weren’t serious injuries going on with any of the crashes that occurred," Garcia said.
The third arrest, Martin Tesian Johnson, 22, of Winter Haven, occurred after Johnson wrecked his car while fleeing.
All face charges related to street racing and fleeing law enforcement, while Ciprian and Rios face upgraded charges related to felony battery of law enforcement.
“The penalties they’re facing for street takeovers are typically either their vehicles could be impounded, fines are imposed, but now, the act of actually, purposefully, crashing into a state trooper vehicle, or other marked law enforcement vehicle, that’s where it becomes battery," Garcia said.
She added that many of the participants in these types of events tend to be younger drivers, some of whom don't even own the cars.
“If the parent is the registered owner of the vehicle, and they’re allowing their child to participate in these illegal activities like street takeovers, a parent can also be held liable," Garcia said.
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