2 Men In Mustang Speeding On I-4 In Lakeland Arrested For Separate Charges

POLK COUNTY, FL — An Orlando man faces 13 charges after deputies accused him of trying to hit an officer with a black Ford Mustang Saturday morning on Interstate 4 in Lakeland, a Polk County Sheriff's Office news release said.

Twenty-nine-year-old Jason Starkweather was arrested on charges of false imprisonment, possession of cocaine, fleeing to elude, burglary, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting a law enforcement officer without violence, reckless driving, DUI, knowingly driving with a suspended driver's license, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of probation and Orange County warrant, according to the sheriff's office.

A passenger in Starkweather's Mustang, 32-year-old Alex Murray of Orlando, had an active warrant for felony battery from Orange County and was arrested, deputies said.

A traffic deputy clocked Starkweather driving at 94 mph in a 70 mph hour zone on I-4 at about 8:30 a.m., the sheriff's office said.

When the officer pulled the suspect over, Starkweather gave a Florida state identification card to him. The officer accused him of having numerous open alcohol containers inside the car. At some point in their interaction, Starkweather is accused of trying to drive away as a passenger yelled at him not to run as the passenger put the gear shift in neutral.

According to deputies, Starkweather then put the gear shift back in drive, and as he drove away almost hit the officer.

Starkweather is accused by the sheriff's office of stopping his car moments later near the end of State Road 33 exit, and then running away from his Mustang. A clear bag filled with cocaine fell out of his pocket when he got out of the car, officers said.

The suspect was later found hiding under a van in the business parking lot of Manheim Auto Auction near State Road 33 with the assistance of PCSO K-9 units and the aviation unit. A K-9 apprehended Starkweather after he refused to come out from under the van, deputies said.

This man has a blatant disregard for the public’s safety. He put the lives of his passengers, my deputy, and the other drivers on the road in jeopardy," Sheriff Grady Judd said. "We will do everything we can to hold him accountable for his actions."