Haines City, Florida – In the early morning hours of Saturday, February 26, 2022 the Haines City Police Department arrested a fugitive from multiple states. The suspect Joshua Mitchell, 9/2/1995, was wanted in both Georgia and New York for the offenses of aggravated stalking, domestic battery, and false imprisonment, reckless driving and several other offenses. Below is a release from the Haines City Police Department (It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by the A law enforcement agency. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. The Daily Ridge does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to their own understanding and conclusions) :
On February 26, 2022, the suspect operated a black 2018 Chevrolet sports utility vehicle in the area of 10th Street and Patterson Road, Haines City-Polk County, Florida 33844. The suspect drove through a posted stop sign, stopped in the roadway and reversed his vehicle. Officer Bruner observed the violation and affected a traffic stop. Upon making contact with the driver, his license and registration were requested. The driver stated he did not have his license. Officer Bruner requested that he get it and the driver drove away at a high rate of speed.
Officer Bruner broadcasted the information and stated he was not in pursuit. Officers in the area of northbound Highway 27 and Davenport Boulevard located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The suspect failed to yield for the emergency vehicles with emergency equipment activated. Just north of Davenport Boulevard, the suspect entered the southbound lane, driving against traffic. The suspect eventually turned around and drove southbound in the northbound lane. At approximately North Boulevard, the suspect crossed the median again and continued driving southbound at speeds greater than 80 miles per hour. The vehicle failed to stop for a steady red light at Sanders Road and Highway 27. Continuing southbound, the suspect turned the lights off and back on as it passed Bates Road. The vehicle continued driving recklessly as it approached Polk City Road. Officers were told to disengage and meet at the police department for debriefing. Nearing the intersection of Commerce Avenue and Highway 27, Corporal Turner saw the vehicle driving west from the intersection. As Corporal Turner turned onto Commerce Avenue, the vehicle was observed entering the Heartland Estates community located at 1701 Commerce Avenue West. The community has one entrance and exit. Officers were directed to set up a perimeter in an attempt to locate the suspect and the vehicle.
While circulating the community, the vehicle was located at the very south end of the community next to a motor home. Officer Bruner and Corporal Turner parked behind the vehicle in an attempt to get it stopped. Before exiting our agency vehicles, the suspect willfully and intentionally backed into to both our vehicles. Both officers were able to exit the vehicle and ordered the driver to exit. The suspect drove into a fence positioned at the front of his vehicle. While continuously giving orders to exit, the suspect backed his vehicle again, nearly striking the officers around it. Officer Bruner and Corporal Turner had to jump out way to avoid being struck. The driver was successful in ramming the gate where he was able to escape. Officer Holmes was located on the other side of the gate and ran for cover as the vehicle barreled down on him.
The vehicle made it onto Prado Grande where it continued in a reckless manner towards Highway 17-92 West. The vehicle turned onto Highway 17-92 West towards Lake Alfred at speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour. Prior to entering Lake Alfred’s jurisdiction, the vehicle turned around and drove eastbound toward Haines City. Officer Trajbar was able to successfully deploy stop stick. As the tire on the vehicle deflated, the driver entered the northbound on ramp for Highway 27. Officer Holmes was able to successfully pit the vehicle. The vehicle became mobile and drove down the embankment, and back onto Highway 17-92 West. Officer Holmes and Officer Gilman were able to disable the vehicle.
Once the vehicle was stopped, the driver, an Adult Black Male, wearing all blue climbed out of the driver’s window and fled towards the southbound on ramp for Highway 27. After crossing the on ramp, he entered a wooded area to the north. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit arrived on scene and located the suspect walking near railroad tracks in the area of Tennessee and Kentucky Streets. The aviation unit was able to direct K-9 to the area where K-9 Officer Webster and K-9 Matrix were able to take the suspect into custody. During the K-9 apprehension, the suspect attempted to gouge K-9 Matrix’s eyes out. The suspect was transported to Advent Health Heart of Florida for minor abrasions to the lower right leg. The suspect was later identified as Michael Brown September 29, 1994. While speaking to Brown at Advent Health, it was learned he provided false information. The suspect, Joshua Mitchell, September 2, 1995, was positively identified via a fingerprint scanner and found to have extraditable felony warrant out of Dekalb County, Georgia for the offenses of aggravated stalking, domestic battery, and false imprisonment. An additional extraditable warrant was located from Nassau County, New York for reckless driving and several other offenses. During a post Miranda interview, Mitchell stated he was afraid due to a family member dying at the hands of law enforcement. Mitchell stated he was not trying to hurt anyone, he knew his license were suspended and wanted to get away. Mitchell’s passenger who was later identified as (redacted) was transported to the Haines City Police Department. Upon arrival, (redacted) indicated she was approximately 5 weeks pregnant and later transported to Advent Health. A post Miranda interview was conducted by Corporal Turner. (Redacted) stated she met Mitchell approximately a month ago. She stated they were in the Haines City area visiting his father when he inadvertently ran through a stop sign. (Redacted) explained there are no four way stop signs where they are from. (Redacted) relayed the vehicle was stopped after running through the stop sign and the officer requested Mitchell’s license. (Redacted) indicated Mitchell made her aware of his license status as suspended. (Redacted) stated while the officer was near the car, Mitchell took off at a high rate of speed.
(Redacted) stated the vehicle was on the highway when Mitchell drove on the opposite side of the road which frightened her. (Redacted) via a recorded statement stated she told him to stop. (Redacted) stated she needed to urinate badly when Mitchell entered the Heartland Community. (Redacted) recalled exiting the vehicle with Mitchell so she could urinate, but law enforcement arrived. She stated she and Mitchell entered the vehicle when she believes the vehicle was “bumped” from behind. As Mitchell continued to ram law enforcement vehicles and the gate, (Redacted) stated she asked Mitchell to stop. (Redacted) stated she could not really recall much as the situation was very stressful for her. (Redacted) was treated by medical staff and released.
An FCIC/NCIC checked confirmed that Mitchell has numerous felony warrants out of New York and Georgia. The New York warrants is for violation of probation – riskless driving and several others. The Georgia warrants are for aggravated stalking, Criminal damage 2nd, False imprisonment, family violence battery.
Following the pursuit, an on scene debriefing was conducted where Corporal Turner, Officer Bruner, Officer Holmes, and Officer Gilman’s cars were damaged. During the pursuit, there were no vehicles or pedestrian on the roadway at the time except for the suspect vehicle and law enforcement. The weather was clear and not raining. The pursuit time frame is from 0131 hours to 0247 hours. The pursuit audio was obtained from the ECC and provided to Lieutenant Jackson. Corporal Turner called Lieutenant Jackson and notified of the pursuit, K9 apprehension, and damaged patrol vehicles. The protective action and pursuit critique was completed and submitted in a file to Lieutenant Jackson.
Mitchell was charged with two counts of aggravated battery on a Leo with a deadly weapon, three counts of aggravated assault on a Leo with a deadly weapon, fleeing to elude with lights and sirens and high speeds/property damage, resisting officer with violence, no valid driver’s license, battery on a police canine, and the Fugitive from justice warrants.
After being medically cleared through the Advent Health Heart of Florida, Mitchell was transported to the Polk County Jail.
