Naked Fla. man allegedly went on crime spree, striking multiple cars, trespassing at elementary school
06/22/2023 2:11 pm PDT
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. (TCD) -- Deputies arrested a 22-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman this week for their alleged involvement in a string of crimes, including multiple hit-and-runs, possessing drugs, and trespassing at an elementary school.
On Wednesday, June 21, deputies from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area near State Road 100 East and Old Kings Road South after a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer reportedly witnessed an SUV strike multiple cars before driving off at a high speed. The Sheriff’s Office said the officer turned on his emergency lights and siren but failed to stop the SUV.
The SUV then allegedly drove onto the Old Kings Elementary property and onto the school’s running track. Afterward, the vehicle reportedly drove onto the Flagler County Landfill before entering a wooded area.
Additional deputies arrived and set up a perimeter on the ground as Flagler County Fireflight kept track of the SUV from above.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies approached the vehicle, which appeared to be stuck on a concrete barrier, and ordered the driver and passenger to exit. The suspects refused to comply, so deputies removed them.
The Sheriff’s Office noted the male driver, later identified as Stephen Peterson of Port Orange, Florida, was "naked except for a small covering wrapped around his waist and socks." Officials do not know why he was not fully clothed.
Officials took Peterson and the passenger, 20-year-old Victoria Averill, into custody.
Peterson was arrested on charges of fleeing and eluding, leaving the scene of a crash with damage to vehicle or property, resisting an officer without violence, trespassing on school grounds, possession of marijuana under 20 grams, and possession of drug paraphernalia/equipment. He was booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on $19,500 bond.
Averill was arrested on charges of trespassing on school grounds, possession of marijuana under 20 grams, and possession of drug paraphernalia/equipment. Her bond was set at $3,000.
In a statement, Sheriff Rick Staly said, "Just when you think you’ve seen and heard everything, a driver causes multiple hit-and-run crashes, flees from law enforcement, resists arrest, and then has to be dragged out naked from his car to be arrested."
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