3 arrests made in connection to illegal street racing in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Three men were arrested in connection to illegal street racing in Jacksonville last weekend, police say.

They were identified as Donald Wilcox, Niles Dittman, and Andre Brown.

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On May 7, around 11 p.m. officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to 9459 Lem Turner Road to assist undercover officers with a “street racing deployment.” The undercover officers had observed vehicles making dangerous street racing maneuvers in the parking lot.

One of the vehicles participating in the maneuvers was a gray Ford Mustang, driven by Wilcox, according to his arrest report.

Wilcox fled at a high rate of speed and with no lights toward a large crowd when officers attempted to stop him. He was forcefully removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest for carrying a firearm, fleeing officers, resisting officers, reckless driving, driving without headlights and improper display of tags.

JSO found and seized a retractable plate cover from the Mustang along with firearms and firearm accessories, the report said.

On the same night, Dittman was observed attempting to leave the parking lot in a blue Chevrolet Silverado with a lift and a drop hitch, his arrest report says. Officers stopped Dittman and found a box of fireworks and a flag in the back seat of the vehicle.

Dittman was detained shortly after and charged with reckless driving, criminal mischief, careless driving and racing on a highway.

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On May 8, JSO was notified of a large gathering of vehicles street racing in the 9400 block of Lem Turner Road. Officers arrived at the gathering around 11:30 p.m. and found a white Mustang driven by Brown.

According to his arrest report, officers followed Brown to a Raceway gas station and attempted to stop his vehicle when he fled. Brown drove around the gas station at a high rate of speed, weaving between the pumps and pedestrians.

Officers blocked Brown’s path and placed him under arrest after a struggle. He was charged with failing to obey officers, fleeing a law enforcement officer, racing on a highway, improper display of tags, an altered exhaust and improper covering of taillights.

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