INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A convicted felon with a history of violent crimes and drug charges was tasered and arrested for cocaine among other offenses on Thursday, after officers with knowledge of his suspended license attempted to pull him over.
Toranto Thomas, 32, of 4536 30th Avenue, Vero Beach, now faces multiple charges including felony possession of cocaine with the intent to sell and felony flee and elude.
Thomas was originally held in the Indian River County Jail in lieu of $18,000 bond, but it was lowered to $5,000. He posted bond and was released just after 3 a.m. Friday morning.
In March of 2012, Thomas was booked for the possession and intent to distribute cocaine, possession of MDMA ecstasy, possession of marijuana under 20 grams, and resisting arrest with violence. He posted $20,000 bond and was released nine days later.
In July of 2012, he was arrested on felony charges including robbery armed with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Drug related charges included felony possession of oxycodone , cocaine, and a controlled substance with the intent to sell, and possession of MDMA ecstasy.
He was also booked for exposure of sexual organs, resisting arrest without violence, possession of marijuana under 20 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, and improper exhibit of a firearm or weapon.
Following his July arrest, he was transferred to the Florida Department of Corrections on Feb. 19, 2014, according to the booking report.
He was released again on Aug. 8, 2015.
On Thursday, Nov. 12, at approximately 1:30 a.m., authorities saw Thomas leaving the Cumberland Farms parking lot on 45th Street and US 1, driving a vehicle with an expired tag, according to the arrest affidavit.
When officers attempted to pull Thomas over, he led them on a car chase that ended when Thomas crashed into a tree, according to the arrest report. He then fled the scene on foot and was found behind a garbage dumpster near the 4300 block of 26th Avenue.
Thomas refused the arresting officer’s commands to remove his hands from his pockets and get on the ground, the report states.
Instead, Thomas yelled out to an unknown man positioned behind the arresting officer to “pull out that fire and shoot him.”
According to the arrest report, “fire” is a term often used for “firearm.”
The unknown male fled the scene.
The arresting officer deployed a taser on Thomas when he attempted to run from behind the dumpster.
Police recovered two medium bags of powder cocaine and 11 small bags of powder cocaine from the site where Thomas was arrested. They also recovered a Florida State Food Stamp card and $531 in cash from his wallet.
Thomas told authorities he fled because he thought he was being “set up.” He denied ownership of the cocaine, according to the arrest report.