K-9 and drone units respond to speedster teen’s claims during traffic stop

A Tavares teen was arrested for resisting after making false claims about another driver during a traffic stop.

An officer was conducting speed enforcement near Airport View and U.S. Hwy. 441 when a newer white Kia passenger car passed by at a high rate of speed around 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. As the officer approached the driver, 18-year-old Trinity Ari-Anna Coleman, she accelerated.

While getting closer to U.S. Hwy. 441 and County Road 44, the vehicle made an evasive maneuver to the right, jumped the concrete median and ran the red light at the intersection. This reckless driving prompted the officer to initiate a traffic stop with overhead emergency lights and sirens. The vehicle drove faster and made a left turn onto Tomato Hill Road, the report said.

Coleman was actively fleeing from law enforcement, so the officer deactivated his equipment. Her vehicle was last seen turning left onto Old Tavares Road, and this was relayed to fellow officers. One of them was near Sleepy Hollow Road and Sunnyside Drive, so the initial officer parked just north of the entrance to the Laurel Oaks Apartments, located at 2700 Laurel Hollow Drive, the report said.

The same vehicle that fled from him then passed by, headed north on Sleepy Hollow Road. He stopped the vehicle at the entrance to the apartments, after which Coleman stepped out. She was detained and agreed to talk, the report said.

When asked why she ran, Coleman stated she had never been in trouble and was scared. She was coming from work and pointed to a restaurant down Sleepy Hollow Road, although there were no restaurants south of her location, the report said.

The deputy explained that if she had stopped, she might have only received a ticket or a warning. Now, she would be facing felony charges. She then stated she was lying, and someone else was driving, the report said.

Coleman claimed she was giving a guy named “Zach” a ride home from work, which was not the first time. She did not know him, but agreed when he asked for a ride home from her job at Outback Steakhouse. When asked why she left a stranger to drive her vehicle, she stated she was tired and did not feel like driving, the report said.

They pulled into a residence off Sleepy Hollow Road, with a white van in the driveway, and “Zach” got out. He put a finger to his mouth, motioning to be quiet. He then took off running, the report said.

Due to this, a K-9 unit and a Lake County Sheriff’s Office drone unit arrived on scene to assist. The officer asked Coleman to call her manager for more information on “Zach,” only to learn that she instead worked at Ruby Tuesday’s. Coleman reiterated that the manager worked at Ruby Tuesday’s, and she worked at Outback Steakhouse, the report said.

The manager of the latter advised that they had a “Zach” who used to work for them but resigned to pursue a nursing career at Waterman Hospital in Tavares. A call to the on-duty supervisor determined no one by that name was employed at the hospital, the report said.

The officer then pulled up a driver’s license photo for “Zach” and asked Coleman to describe him. She stated he had dirty blonde curly hair and was about 5’5” to 6’ tall. The license showed he had brown curly hair and was 6’4”, the report said.

More officers also checked the residence where the vehicle pulled into and did not see any fresh tire marks or footprints, the report said.

Coleman was ultimately arrested on charge of resist officer without violence. She was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting $1,000 bond.