Here's Why You Shouldn't Run from Florida Highway Patrol

Police Report: I, Trooper M. Pepitone, have been employed by the Florida Highway Patrol for over 6 years. I am currently assigned to the Criminal Interdiction Unit (CIU) as a Felony Trooper. This unit consists of a canine handler, its canine, and a Felony Trooper, strategically assigned throughout the state to patrol the interstate and other highways to interdict drug couriers and other criminal activity.

On February 21, 2024, I was on patrol in a fully marked Florida Highway Patrol vehicle within Escambia County. While in Escambia County, I was stationary at mile marker 1 on Interstate 10. I was facing south observing westbound traffic as it approached me. While observing traffic, I heard radio traffic from other Criminal Interdiction Units about a vehicle fleeing the area of State Road 29 near Interstate 10. Trooper Rivera and I left the median in an attempt to assist with the vehicle pursuit. As I was traveling east on Interstate 10, I overheard the suspect had eventually entered Interstate 10, traveling east toward my position.

I observed the vehicle and activated my emergency lights and sirens. The vehicle exited at mile marker 5, entering 9 Mile Road northbound and actively fleeing. The vehicle made a left turn onto Pine Cone Drive, traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour. It then made a left turn onto 297A, traveling head-on with traffic. The vehicle made a right turn onto Muscogee Road and traveled northbound on U.S. 29 in the southbound lanes. The suspect vehicle made a U-turn on U.S. 29 to travel southbound in the southbound lanes. The suspect vehicle made another U-turn in a paved median to travel northbound in the northbound lanes of U.S. 29. The vehicle accelerated in excess of 100 miles per hour in and out of traffic. The suspect vehicle made a right turn onto Quintette Road until crossing U.S. 29 onto Highway 97 westbound. The suspect vehicle made a left turn onto Sunshine Hill Road and continued at high speeds before making a right turn onto Molino Road. We began to travel at high speeds again on Molino Road. I attempted to conduct a PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) on the suspect vehicle.

My front right of my patrol vehicle made contact with the left rear of the suspect vehicle. During the pursuit, I identified the vehicle as an Audi sedan bearing Wisconsin license plate. After making contact with the vehicle, I was able to successfully PIT the vehicle into the ditch. At that point, the vehicle began to overturn multiple times through a ditch, coming to a final rest upright. Trooper Davis and I were able to successfully apprehend the suspect after he exited the vehicle. The sole occupant of the vehicle was the registered owner, Noel Almargo Petonguot. Due to the vehicle overturning, we called EMS for Petonguot. During the course of the PIT, while I was actively performing my duties, my patrol vehicle collided with a standing mailbox, causing damage to the rear of my patrol vehicle.

Once the scene was secured, Petonguot was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital of Pensacola. Petonguot was escorted by other Troopers who remained with him at the hospital. At this time, Petonguot will remain at the hospital.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined the suspect vehicle committed two hit-and-run collisions. One of the hit-and-runs occurred near the intersection of U.S. 29 and West Burgess Road. The victim’s vehicle was a white Volvo. The second hit-and-run occurred near the intersection of Pine Forest Road and West Detroit Boulevard. The vehicle involved was a gray Toyota pickup truck. Also, during the pursuit, Sergeant Davis was involved in a vehicle accident. Due to the reckless behavior and aggravated fleeing by Petonguot, multiple traffic crashes occurred.

An NCIC/FCIC query on Petonguot revealed his license was suspended. Petonguot was also wanted out of Wisconsin for the following: felony warrant for disorderly conduct, criminal damage to property, felony bail jumping, false imprisonment, and stalking. Wisconsin elected not to extradite Petonguot.

All events occurred in Escambia County, Florida.