Florida Man 2022: The bizarre arrests made this year by law enforcement – FOX 35 Orlando
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LAKE MARY, Fla. – When scrolling online, you're likely to come across a news article with a headline featuring these two words: Florida Man.
Over the years, those two words quickly became a viral term to refer to a person accused of strange and unusual crimes in the Sunshine State.
Below is a review of some of those stories that made news headlines in 2022 in Central Florida:
Brandon Wright was reportedly naked and armed with a machete when he allegedly tried to steal another man's clothes in Volusia County.
Chopper video captured him appearing to do push-ups at the entrance of a gas station in DeLand, before he laid on the ground for officers and was arrested.
Richard Atchison of Fruitland Park, was arrested for allegedly hitting his wife with a Christmas tree when she asked for help with making dinner, according to Lake County officials.
(Photo via Lake County Sheriff’s Office)
Kenal Bryan, who was running from police at the time, was arrested for reportedly trying to flee on an Osceola County school bus that was stopped at a RaceTrac gas station, according to authorities.
Deputies said they were running after Bryan because they received a call about a suspicious person at a local business inappropriately making comments or touching people.
Robert Patrick Wilson, who deputies called a "motorcycle gang member," was arrested after he was reportedly spotted going over 100 mph on a 2009 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He reportedly sped off from two traffic stop attempts on his motorcycle before he was taken into custody during the third traffic stop attempt after his motorcycle ran out of gas on State Road 100 near Shell Bluff Road in Flagler County.
Robert Wilson (Photo via Flagler County Sheriff’s Office)
"If you’re going to run from FCSO, you should make sure you have a full tank of gas," Flagler County Sheriff Staly said in a statement.
Authorities said Oscar Dominique Leonides jumped into the St. Johns River in an attempt to avoid capture after leading deputies in a pursuit across multiple Central Florida counties.
An Apopka man who led authorities on a chase through multiple counties in Central Florida on Saturday, and then jumped into the St. Johns River, was arrested late Saturday, according to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
He was in the water for about an hour before he was eventually taken into custody, a spokesperson for the Seminole County Sheriff's Office said.
Jerome Ellis was a Dollar General employee in DeLand when he allegedly poured bleach into his co-worker's drink after an argument. When deputies arrived at the store, video surveillance reportedly showed Ellis pouring bleach into the Pepsi can while the victim was in the bathroom. He also reportedly wiped the can off, walked away, and came back to spit in the drink, deputies said.
Courtesy: Volusia County Sheriff’s Office
Randall Atwell of Orlando was taken to jail after he was caught on camera climbing through a Wendy's drive-thru window and stealing the cash.
Police need the community’s help in identifying a man they say was caught on camera climbing into an Orlando Wendy’s drive-through window and stealing the cash drawer from the register.
Andres Orjuela-Montealegre was accused of driving a vehicle missing two tires when he was pulled over by law enforcement on Interstate 75 in Marion Oaks. He alleged that paranormal activity was responsible, according to the sheriff's office.
Randy Wealand reportedly stole a machine from a construction site in Flagler County and took it on a joyride to Beverly Beach, leaving behind a "path of destruction," according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
(Photos via Flagler County Sheriff’s Office)
An investigation revealed Wealand reportedly stole the $60,000 Lull from a construction site and took it about 2.5 miles south along A1A to Beverly Beach, running over two fire hydrants, a Charter Communications fiber node, resident mailboxes, and broke several sections of public sidewalk. Authorities said the damage he allegedly caused is believed to be more than $10,000.
A man by the name of Brad reportedly tried to steal from a Walmart store in St. Cloud that was filled with several law enforcement officers for a "Shop with a Cop" event. Deputies called the incident a "bad idea."
A man tried to shoplift from a Walmart while 40 deputies were inside the store
Tracy Mofield of Islamorada, was accused of stealing over $1,000 worth of toothbrushes from a Walgreens store. Deputies said he later admitted to throwing the toothbrushes off the Long Key Bridge in the Florida Keys. The motive behind the incident was immediately available.
Pictured: Tracy Jay Mofield (Photo via Monroe County Sheriff’s Office)
Deputies said Zachary Sibert was pretty "courteous" when he reportedly yelled to a deputy, "I'm sorry" after being pulled over for allegedly driving 110 mph on Interstate 95 in Brevard County. Instead of "stopping the car like a normal adult, Sibert decided to play ‘frogger’ across I-95!" the sheriff's office wrote on Facebook.
A Florida man who was allegedly driving over 100 mph on I-95 was pulled over, but took off running, yelling "I’m sorry" to the deputy, the Brevard Sheriff said.
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