A motorcyclist who had taunted area sheriff’s deputies and police officers for more than a week with high-speed antics was arrested Saturday morning after a Lake County deputy snuck up on him at a traffic light.
Mason Neil Aramino, 22, of Tavares had been sought by law enforcement after he had been reported driving recklessly around Leesburg and Tavares on his Honda street bike for more than a week. Several deputies and police officers had seen Aramino traveling at speeds of more than 100 mph, driving on one wheel and revving his engine in the presence of officers in an attempt to provoke a chase, a Lake County Sheriff’s Office report states.
On Saturday, Aramino was spotted leaving the Bassville Park area and again driving recklessly. Dep. Dustin Turner quickly lost sight of Aramino but soon spotted him again at the traffic lights at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 441 and County Road 44 in Leesburg.
Turner was able to sneak up on Aramino on foot, grab him off the motorcycle and take him to the ground before he could pull away. As he was being handcuffed, Aramino said, “Dang, if I would have saw you, I would have taken off and ran.”
Aramino, who works in construction, was transported to the Lake County Jail late Saturday afternoon and charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (Alprazolam), reckless driving, distribution of synthetic narcotics and possession of cannabis concentrates. He was released Saturday night on $13,000 bond and is due in Lake County Court on Feb. 25 at 8:30 a.m. to answer to the charges.
Aramino’s motorcycle was towed and the sheriff’s office is proceeding with its seizure process, the report says.
