Venia Alexis {BSO}
By Ryan Yousefi
A high-speed police chase turned into a chaotic scene when a female driver refused to stop for authorities.
According to the Broward County Sheriff’s report, the March 30 incident began when officers observed a driver, later identified as Venia Alexis, 27, of North Lauderdale, driving at speeds near NW 60th Avenue at one point while traveling on the wrong side of the road.
After witnessing Alexis run a 3-way roundabout stop at NW 17th Ct and NW 60th Ave, deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but she refused to stop her vehicle.
According to the arrest reports, a chase continued until Alexis eventually stopped at approximately 5926 NW 15th Ct. There, deputies attempted to approach her vehicle and command her to turn off the engine and place her keys on the top of the car.
The report shows Alexis refused to comply and instead yelled out, “I’m scared,” before pulling off at a high rate of speed and driving east towards NW 58th Terrace.
Despite efforts to locate the vehicle, officers could not find Venia and suspect she might have headed east into Lauderhill.
A bolo for the vehicle was issued to Lauderhill, but a canvas of the area proved negative.
Upon further investigation, officers identified Alexis as the vehicle’s registered owner and discovered that she was on probation for auto theft.
Deputies wrote in the report that based on the events during the chase, they had established probable cause for fleeing law enforcement and violating probation.
The arrest reports indicate that after deputies’ initial encounter with Alexis, they received a report of a woman responsible for an accident in Tamarac fleeing the scene on foot.
Despite the responding deputy’s attempts to stop her, Alexis ran away, screaming and running in moving traffic. She also resisted arrest when the deputy attempted to handcuff her.
At one point, the arrest report shows that Alexis attempted to enter vehicles stopped at red lights. The driver of one of the vehicles informed deputies that they did not know Alexis and left the scene.
The report states a deputy moved in and was able to deploy a Taser, which was effective in gaining compliance and control over Alexis, who was then taken into custody.
Further investigation revealed that Alexis was not only on probation for auto theft but did not own a valid driver’s license.
Alexis was arrested and transported to the Florida Medical Center for medical clearance before being taken to the Broward County Main Jail, where she faces seven charges, including fleeing arrest, reckless driving, resisting arrest without violence, leaving the scene of an accident, driving with a suspended license, violation of probation, and driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
Got News? Send it to Tamarac Talk. Don’t miss reading Margate Talk, Coral Springs Talk, Coconut Creek Talk, and Parkland Talk.