flagler county, florida – Flagler agents, who were looking for the stolen BMW with the tag, found it on Wednesday night and used spike strips to eventually stop the vehicle on Interstate 95 and remove the inside of the vehicle. We arrested 3 men and recovered 13 hacked catalytic converters in the trunk.
The tag sought by the Flagler County Sheriff's Office was reportedly stolen from Osceola County on December 17, according to the indictment affidavit. Two Palm Coast Parkway Northwest agents witnessed the car heading east on the west-facing lane with the lights off after 6 p.m. The affidavit states that the vehicle was followed at a safe distance until it arrived.
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Driving west on the carriageway, the BMW continued until the driver made a U-turn onto Palm Coast Parkway Southeast, but on Belle Terre Parkway encountered a stop stick with at least two tires bursting. There was no obstruction.
After Flagler's agent in pursuit turned on the vehicle's emergency lights, the BMW sped up and the suspect's car at one point reached speeds of about 80 mph in the 45-mph zone, the affidavit said. says. It reached I-95 and continued west until it entered the southbound lane at mile marker 289, at which point the unit behind the BMW turned off its emergency lights but was still being pursued. The lights appeared to be extinguished, the vehicle behaved more erratically, and agents reportedly watched as sparks began to fly from the exposed wheels.
Ultimately, agents said the BMW made its final stop at mile marker 279 near Bunnell. A video shared by the sheriff's office shows the high-risk traffic stop that followed.
Out of the car were 18-year-old Xianchero Gazic, 19-year-old Michael Antunes and 25-year-old Franco Ruiz. After clearing the car's cabin, the deputy pulled out a gun and opened the trunk, ready to find someone hiding inside.
Instead, 13 catalytic converters glowed in the lawmakers' high beams, and at least one unit was fitted to a work vehicle harvested earlier in the day, the affidavit says.
Otherwise, the agent found multiple ski masks, sawzalls, saw blades, and a New York tag reportedly stolen from Palm Beach County on Dec. 1 in a vehicle, along with a BMW-registered Florida You said you found the tag.
None of the men claimed ownership of the license plate, converter, or tools inside the vehicle. According to the affidavit, possession of an unmanned vehicle and robbery equipment.
Gazich, the driver of the BMW, was charged with fleeing law enforcement at high speed with lights and sirens on, driving recklessly, disobeying police, possessing less than 20 grams of marijuana, and possessing drug paraphernalia. , has been charged with intentional driving while his license is suspended.Affidavit states.
All were held at the Flagler County Jail. Antuez and Louis were each released on $10,500 bail, but her Gazich, who received a total of $46,500 bail, remains in prison, records show.
Flagler detectives are still investigating the theft, according to the Sheriff's Office.
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