LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Six people were arrested after Lee County Sheriff's Office said a street race turned into a police officer pursuit, resulting in a pedestrian being hit.
It happened Sunday night in the Target parking lot of San Carlos Boulevard, four months after Sheriff Carmine Marceno started the Street Racing Task Force in response to a separate incident.
LCSO says when they went to stop the racing, 21-year-old Mateo Gonzalez hit a pedestrian in the parking lot while he was trying to get away.
The attempted escape was captured on surveillance video and you can see Gonzalez hit the median and flip his car over.
“We attempted to stop the vehicle," said Sheriff Marceno. "It actually strikes one of our patrol cars and because of safety we called the pursuit off.”
But LCSO was still monitoring the situation from a helicopter.
“Don’t street race, don’t commit reckless acts in your vehicle because we are going to chase you. We are going to hunt you down," the sheriff said.
Gonzalez is now facing charges of street racing, fleeing & eluding, and reckless driving.
Five others were also arrested, and all six individuals are out on bond.
🚨 ICYMI - STREET RACER HITS PEDESTRIAN & FLIPS VEHICLE🚨
— Carmine Marceno - Florida’s Law and Order Sheriff (@SheriffLeeFL) June 26, 2023
Check out the moment Mateo Gonzalez burns out in a business parking lot, hits a pedestrian, flees at dangerously high speeds, & flips his vehicle. He’s charged with street racing, fleeing & eluding, reckless driving. pic.twitter.com/uWw07yKvAY
