A 21-year-old man is in custody on charges including fleeing from law enforcement in a car and on foot in Fort Pierce.<\/p>\n
Leon Kevin Gentle-Coaxum was charged with fleeing and eluding with property damage; hit and run with property damage; operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver license; and resisting arrest without violence, according to a Fort Pierce Police Department news release.<\/p>\n
At 4:45 p.m. Sept. 25 Fort Pierce Police officers were conducting a traffic enforcement initiative near Okeechobee and Jenkins roads when they saw a blue Volkswagen Jetta driving south on Okeechobee Road, according to the news release.<\/p>\n
An officer attempted a traffic stop after they determined the driver of the Volkswagen, later identified as Gentle-Coaxum, had a suspended driver’s license. As the officer approached the vehicle, Gentle-Coaxum fled the traffic stop.<\/p>\n
Gentle-Coaxum sped into oncoming traffic and around stopped vehicles while using the road’s shoulder to pass, according to the news release.<\/p>\n
The Volkswagen later stopped near South 25th Street and Edwards Road. The officer commanded Gentle-Coaxum to get out of the vehicle, but he refused and fled a second time, striking the vehicle in front of him.<\/p>\n
To stop the vehicle, the officer broke the driver’s side window. Gentle-Coaxum then exited through the passenger side and ran. During the foot pursuit, a nearby person tackled him, which allowed officers to take him into custody.<\/p>\n
Gentle-Coaxum was transported to the St. Lucie County Jail without further incident.<\/p>\n
No other information was available Sept. 29, including Gentle-Coaxum’s city of residence.<\/p>\n
Fort Pierce: Florida home hit by gunfire while adults and children were inside<\/a><\/p>\n Fort Pierce: Florida jury seated in trial of ex Fort Pierce City Manager Nick Mimms<\/a><\/p>\n Olivia Franklin<\/a> is TCPalm’s trending and breaking news reporter. You can contact her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com, 317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5<\/a>.<\/p>\n