A Gulf Breeze Police Department Officer responded around 6:20 p.m., Saturday, July 18 to the Naval Live Oaks Reservation to assist Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in pursuit of a grey Ford F-150 truck, which had allegedly struck multiple vehicle and pedestrians on Pensacola Beach.
The truck was passed by the GBPD officer, traveling on U.S. 98 at a high rate of speed, and the officer observed it hitting curbs before turning onto Daniel Street then Daniel Circle, where another law enforcement vehicle was blocking ingress back to U.S. 98.
The officer observed the truck lose control, striking multiple utility poles, a fire hydrant and a power line guide wire, colliding with a palm tree before coming to a stop.
The lone occupant of the vehicle was identified as 19-year-old Joan Vargas Rosario, who has a Pennsylvania driver’s license but was booked with an Eglin Air Force Base address.
The officer’s report states he tackled Rosario to the ground and the suspect then tried to resist by attempting to tuck his arms under his chest. Subsequently, a stingle stun from an electronic control devision was utility to place Rosario under arrest.
The suspect was transported to Gulf Breeze Baptist Hospital since he had been involved in a crash. Prior to doing so, he satisfactoriliy performed field sobriety tasks.
It was later discovered by ECSO that Rosario had allegedly taken the truck without permission from an active-duty service member.
Rosario was transported to Santa Rosa County Jail and faces the following charges:
- a second-degree felony charge of flee/elude with disregard for safety to persons or property;
- a third-degree felony charge of flee/elude – failure to obey law enforcement order to stop;
- a second-degree misdemeanor charge of hit & run, leaving scene of crash involving damange to property;
- a first-degree misdeamor charge of resisting an officer without violence; and
- a first-degree misdemeanor charge of reckless driving – damange to person or property.
Additionally, per his arrest report, Florida Highway Patrol is also charging Rosario with mutliple hit & run charges.
His court date will be at 9 a.m., August, 6 at Santa Rosa County Courthouse.
