Agencies release additional information about Waldo traffic stop of stolen car

Staff report

WALDO, Fla. – Gainesville Police Department (GPD) and Bradford County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) have released official information that is intended to correct some stories in the media today.

Several media outlets have reported that the stolen car that crashed in Waldo on April 20 after a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper executed a PIT maneuver was involved in a homicide at Tiger Bay on the morning of April 19. However, GPD Public Information Officer Brandon Hatzel told Alachua Chronicle that GPD Detectives have no information linking the stolen car to the homicide.

BCSO Chief Deputy Brad Smith told Alachua Chronicle that License Plate Readers in Bradford County alerted to the tag of a Honda CRV that had been reported stolen in Gainesville. BCSO Deputies initiated a chase of the vehicle but pulled back because the stolen car was traveling at high speeds. Florida Highway Patrol took over the pursuit, and BCSO assisted after the car crashed into a concrete utility pole.

Two of the car’s occupants died at the scene, and one more reportedly passed away this week; there are reports that the fourth occupant has also passed away, but that information has not been officially released. Florida Highway Patrol normally releases the age, gender, and hometown of all occupants in serious crashes, but they have not released that information for this crash.

GPD and BCSO also could not confirm information in other media reports about the criminal history of the occupants.

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