A man who authorities said carjacked a woman’s vehicle was jailed Sunday after law enforcement officers used stop sticks and bumped into the stolen Sedan to force it to stop.
Joshua Briente McCray
PHOTO PROVIDED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Florida Highway Patrol said Joshua Briente McCray led law enforcement on a pursuit from Indian River County south to Martin County. The stolen vehicle – a 2016 Lexus Sedan – belonged to a woman McCray was previously in a relationship with, highway troopers said.
Highway troopers arrested McCray, 24, of Fort Lauderdale, on a variety of charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, robbery with a weapon, carjacking, battery and grand theft auto. McCray was held Tuesday at the Indian River County Jail on $108,500 bond, jail officials said.
Highway troopers also filed charges against McCray for offenses committed in St. Lucie County. The variety of charges include aggravated fleeing and eluding, reckless driving with property damage, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and violation of Florida learner’s driving permit.
The incident began about 8:30 a.m. near mile marker 179 on Florida’s Turnpike in Indian River County. Troopers said McCray was a passenger in the Sedan with a woman driving when the two began to argue.
McCray grabbed the vehicle’s steering wheel, causing the Sedan to swerve, authorities said. McCray then hit the woman in the head and neck.
Troopers said the woman got out of the Sedan and tried to run with her backpack, containing the vehicle keys and her cellphone inside. McCray then got out of the vehicle, pulled out a knife and demanded the backpack, reports show.
Troopers said McCray snatched the backpack, got in the Sedan and drove southbound on Florida’s Turnpike. Troopers, along with St. Lucie and Martin deputies, began pursuing the vehicle as it traveled further south.
McCray reached Martin County when a Martin deputy tossed stop sticks in the roadway, deflating the Sedan’s tires, troopers said. A highway trooper then used his vehicle to bump the back rear of the Sedan, causing the automobile to veer into the grass shoulder.
Troopers said McCray ran from the vehicle, but was detained shortly after. Authorities searched McCray and the Sedan, but did not find the knife.
Troopers returned the Sedan to the woman. McCray was booked in to the county jail.
McCray has an arraignment at 8:45 a.m. April 23, court records show.
