Man Charged With Speeding 146mph on Federal Highway, Fleeing Boca Cops

Reevelinho Leocal (Photo: Palm Beach County Jail)

A 20-year-old Deerfield Beach man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly fled Florida Highway Patrol troopers at speeds exceeding 146 m.p.h. on Federal Highway early Aug. 22, crashed his vehicle in Lighthouse Point and ran on foot, according to an FHP arrest report. The incident began with an attempted traffic stop in Boca Raton.

Reevelinho Leocal was arrested about 2:18 a.m. Aug. 22 near N. Federal Highway and Sample Road in Lighthouse Point after the high-speed pursuit, a report filed in court this week states. He faces a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer at high speed, a felony weapon offense for allegedly using or displaying a firearm during the commission of a felony, a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving and a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence.

According to the FHP report, around 2:10 a.m. that day, Lafleur and another trooper were on routine patrol in a marked Florida Highway Patrol vehicle when they saw a gray Jeep sport utility vehicle traveling southbound on Federal Highway just south of Camino Real at about 65 m.p.h. in a 35 m.p.h. zone. After pacing the Jeep for roughly a quarter-mile and confirming a speed of about 67 m.p.h. with a calibrated speedometer, the troopers activated emergency lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop for unlawful speed.

The driver allegedly accelerated instead of stopping, and continued southbound. Troopers pursued for approximately 4-and-a-half miles as the vehicle exceeded 146 m.p.h. in areas with a posted limit of 45 mph, the report said. The suspect vehicle continued pulling away during portions of the chase.

As the Jeep approached the intersection with Sample Road, the driver allegedly failed to stop for a steady red traffic signal and entered the intersection while another vehicle was traveling eastbound through it. The Jeep swerved in an apparent attempt to avoid a collision, then lost control, traveled onto the curb and struck a metal utility structure and a concrete light pole, disabling the vehicle near the intersection, according to the report.

Immediately after the crash, the suspect exited the driver’s seat and fled westbound on foot toward a Walgreens parking lot. Troopers pursued on foot and gave multiple commands to stop, the report said, but the man disregarded the commands and continued running before he was apprehended and detained. No other occupants were seen inside or exiting the Jeep.

The suspect was identified as Leocal through his Florida driver license. After being detained, he stated he did not wish to answer questions. Because of the collision, Leocal was taken to Broward Health North for medical evaluation and treatment before being booked into the Palm Beach County Jail.

During an inventory of the Jeep before it was towed, troopers located a fully loaded, tan FN firearm with a round in the chamber on the driver’s-side floorboard, the report said. A black backpack on the front passenger seat contained approximately $4,696 in U.S. currency. Leocal made no statements about the firearm, backpack or money, according to the report.

The case originated in Boca Raton through an earlier incident documented by Boca Raton police. According to a probable cause affidavit from the Boca Raton Police Department, officers conducting surveillance in the area of Mizner Park on Aug. 9 observed a matte gray Jeep Grand Cherokee in a parking space directly in front of a business. The sole occupant, described as a black male approximately 20-27 years old matching Leocal’s physical description and clothing details, left the business around 12:07 a.m., placed a bag in the vehicle and drove away.

An officer later attempted a traffic stop after the Jeep made a U-turn onto southbound Federal Highway near the 555 block of N. Federal Highway. The vehicle allegedly failed to stop, fled at about 60 mph in a 35 mph zone and continued southbound into Broward County, the affidavit states.

Through law enforcement databases, the driver was identified as Leocal. On Aug. 9, a photo lineup was created and shown to witnesses from the Boca Raton business. They positively identified Leocal as the same suspect who fled from officers that night. Based on that investigation, Boca Raton police separately charged him with fleeing or attempting to elude a marked police vehicle.

Leocal was released from the Palm Beach County Jail after posting $22,000 combined bond for five separate charges.