Florida Highway Patrol troopers arrested an Orlando man and were searching for six others who abandoned a work van during a Monday, May 11, traffic stop near Grant-Valkaria.
Troopers said the man, 18-year-old Luis Angel Gomez Lopez, was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer without violence after darting from the van during a 5:46 a.m. traffic stop which grew into a search involving several law enforcement agencies.
Troopers patrolling the highway spotted a white, 2007 Ford transit van weaving on the road, nearly striking a semi-tractor trailer, arrest reports show. A traffic stop was initiated and the van pulled over on the shoulder near mile marker 16.
Within moments, seven men got out of the vehicle and ran toward the woods.
Several agencies responded to assist with the search, including the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife and the Indian River County sheriff’s drone unit, records show.
Troopers later located Lopez as he attempted to leave the area, reports show. One trooper used a Taser, striking Lopez in the back. The trooper and Lopez fell toward an embankment, with Lopez striking the trooper in the face, arrest reports show.
Lopez was first taken to Palm Bay Hospital for medical clearance, then taken to the Brevard County Jail Complex in Sharpes. He was placed on a no-bond status.
An investigation is ongoing.
J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Orlando man, 18, arrested after fleeing traffic stop in Grant-Valkaria
Reporting by J.D. Gallop, Florida Today / Florida Today
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