JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A person accused of inflicting a multi-vehicle pileup on Interstate 295 earlier this month that killed a 66-year-old man is predicted to plead not responsible Thursday morning at his arraignment.
Rodney Wesley, 20, has been charged with grand theft auto, carjacking, theft, leaving the scene of a crash involving loss of life, vehicular murder, and resisting with out violence.
Wesley’s bond was set at $2.5 million.
Within the weird hit-and-run crash on Feb. 4, a motorcyclist died and the wrong-way driver, recognized by police as Wesley, escaped on the again of a semi.
In keeping with Wesley’s arrest report, the incident that ended within the crash started on Feb. 3 when officers responded to a reported automotive theft at 5114 Somerton Court docket.
The sufferer mentioned he was placing air in his tires and was strolling “out and in” of his house when he realized he may not hear the air compressor.
When he went exterior, his white 2017 Lexus RX350 was gone, the person instructed police.
The subsequent day — the day of the crash — the person instructed police that he’d realized his neighbor’s daughter knew who stole the automobile and had seen the person with the Lexus earlier that day.
Investigators then realized that the stolen automobile had been discovered deserted at 8764 Buttercup St.
Later that day, round 4:30 p.m., an armed carjacking was reported at an Arco gasoline station at 7890 103rd St.
The sufferer instructed police that he stopped at a pump to get gasoline and when he started to succeed in for the pump, Wesley was standing in entrance of him.
“As soon as the suspect and (the sufferer) disengaged, (the sufferer) bumped into the gasoline station and noticed the suspect driving his automobile out of the gasoline station touring east on 103rd Avenue,” police mentioned.
Just a few hours later, round 9 p.m., officers have been despatched to the scene of a pileup crash on I-295 North involving the stolen automobile. The freeway was shut down for hours following the crash.
Florida Freeway Patrol later mentioned {that a} 66-year-old motorcyclist died when he was thrown off his bike after being hit by Wesley and was then hit by an Acura that was driving behind him.
Troopers mentioned that after the pileup, Wesley tried to steal one other automobile however failed earlier than working from the scene. Till his arrest, he was final seen driving on the surface of a semi that had pushed by the world.
“Crime scene detectives processed the automobile. A considerable quantity of blood was positioned on the outside of the driving force’s aspect in addition to the automobile’s inside,” JSO mentioned.
Officers additionally discovered a backpack within the automobile that matched one worn by Wesley when he approached the person on the Arco gasoline station.
An officer who mentioned he noticed the crash instructed detectives that he would be capable to determine the suspect if he noticed him once more.
Round 1 p.m. the day after the crash, that officer was proven an image of Wesley and confirmed that he was the identical individual the officer noticed getting out of the automobile concerned within the I-295 crash, noting the suspect had “the identical hair and distinct jawline.”
The seek for Wesley continued into the following day when a detective mentioned he noticed him committing site visitors violations on his bike. The detective approached Wesley in his police automotive and tried to drag him over.
In keeping with police, Wesley “seemed immediately” on the detective’s automobile, “swerved round” and started driving his bike away from officers. As soon as his bike path was blocked, Wesley obtained off his bike and started working away towards Susie Avenue.
Wesley continued working by the yard of a house on Osteen Avenue as officers chased after him. He was ultimately discovered hiding behind a shed at a house on Osteen Avenue by a K9 officer and was taken into custody.
“As detectives grabbed Wesley’s arms and tried to take him into custody. Wesley tensed his arms and was given loud verbal instructions to place his arms behind his again,” JSO mentioned. “Wesley was positioned into handcuffs and JFRD responded to offer medical support for Wesley’s wrist and leg from the canine chunk.”
After being taken to UF Well being by JFRD, Wesley was booked for his lively warrants and for resisting with out violence.
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