Florida Highway Patrol reported the arrest of a Sanford woman who was driving on a suspended license when she allegedly struck a trooper with her vehicle as she attempted to avoid a traffic stop. FHP stated that the suspect, Latoya Bedford, 38, of Sanford, was driving more than 100-miles per hour when she passed a trooper on Interstate-4 near State Road 434 Sunday afternoon.
The trooper attempted to stop the driver, later identified as 38-year-old Latoya Bedford of Sanford, but she continued to speed away westbound on I-4 before exiting on Maitland Ave. The trooper attempted to stop Bedford, but she continued to speed away westbound on I-4 before exiting on Maitland Ave.
According to FHP and News 6’s report, Bedford “looked directly at” the trooper while ignoring their orders then drove directly at the trooper at a high rate of speed. The trooper said the front left side of Bedford’s car struck the cruiser’s driver’s side door, pinning the trooper between the door and vehicle frame. Dashcam video released by FHP shows Bedford again speeding away to the south on Maitland Ave.
According to the report, despite being injured, the trooper got back into their cruiser and continued pursuing Bedford, who ultimately crashed into a business on Maitland Ave.
Bedford was detained and taken to AdventHealth in Altamonte Springs where she was cleared by doctors. While searching her car, troopers say they found a set of brass knuckles with a spring-assisted knife hidden in the driver’s side door.
- Bedford faces the following charges:
- Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon
- Reckless driving
- Aggravated fleeing
- Weapon possession by a felon
- Driving with a suspended license
- Failing to stop for a hit-and-run crash.
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