TAVARES, Florida—A 15-year-old male is in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice after accelerating towards an officer in training in a stolen SUV and then fleeing Tavares Police Department, according to TPD.
Shortly before 3:45 a.m. TPD responded to Atwater Apartments 2570 Ann Road, after receiving a call from a citizen concerned about two dark-colored vehicles traveling through the parking lot with occupants who appeared to be wearing ski masks, TPD Public Information Officer Courtney Sullivan said.
One vehicle fled and was later located dumped off of Kurt Street in the City of Eustis. The occupants fled the scene and escaped apprehension, Sullivan said. The other SUV was located at Atwater Apartments and when officers stopped the vehicle, Jarvis Le’Nard Coleman Jr., 15, turned the SUV towards officers and began to accelerate, nearly striking one of them. The officer was able to press himself against the patrol vehicle and the stolen SUV missed the officer and sideview mirror by just a few inches, Sullivan told Inside Lake.
“It happened so fast,” Sullivan said.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies quickly located the vehicle and Coleman was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit. Eustis Police Department and Mount Dora Police Department also assisted in the investigation. Coleman is facing several charges, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding at a high speed and grand theft auto; each of those charges is a felony. He is also facing a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence.
