LAKE WALES, Fla. — A carjacking suspect who hit the victim with the vehicle before fleeing was arrested by the Lake Wales Police Department (LWPD) after a pursuit on Friday.
According to a LWPD report, Dwayne Edward Williams, 56 of Pompano Beach, had attempted to steal merchandise from a Walmart Supercenter, but fled when confronted by loss prevention employees.
Williams entered the Taylor Groves community in Lake Wales, where he attempted to steal a 2016 Ford Edge. The owner of the vehicle was gathering his mail from the community mailbox.
When Williams got into the vehicle, the victim tried to stop the suspect. Williams, however, accelerated and struck the victim, knocking him to the ground, the report stated. The victim suffered minor injuries.
Shortly after, officers located the vehicle on Lilly Street and attempted to stop Williams. Officers pursued the vehicle to the area of 1st Street and Stuart Avenue. Due to the heavy crowds in the area, officers executed a PIT maneuver (precision immobilization technique) to stop the vehicle, the report stated. Williams was then apprehended.
Williams was charged with carjacking, fleeing to elude, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence and felony retail theft.
“You know, it might just be time we take a look if HOAs are really even necessary.
Maybe we should just do away with homeowner associations as a whole.”
South Florida lawmaker Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) says it may be time to do away with homeowners associations altogether, as more Floridians speak out about rising fees, costly lawsuits, and even arrests tied to HOA disputes. He said this week that he is considering filing legislation in the next session that would abolish HOAs statewide.
