ARCHER, Fla. – Neal Andrew Troiano, 38, was arrested after an alleged high-speed escape from law enforcement ended when a Precision Immobilization Technique, or PIT maneuver, sent his pickup truck rolling near Archer.
The incident unfolded around 11:08 a.m. September 21, when a Florida Highway Patrol trooper responded to a request for assistance from Levy County sheriff’s deputies pursuing Troiano eastbound along State Road 24, also known as SW Archer Road.
According to the Levy County Sheriff’s Office, the pursuit began in Cedar Key. A Cedar Key Police Department officer had attempted to stop Troiano as part of a trespassing investigation, but authorities say he drove away. Cedar Key police then requested help from the sheriff’s office, which deployed spike strips in an effort to stop the vehicle.
Investigators said Troiano drove toward an FHP trooper in the wrong direction and later forced other motorists off the roadway while continuing to flee.
A second trooper joined the pursuit near SW 158th Street. Authorities said Troiano ignored the patrol vehicle’s emergency lights and siren, swerved toward the trooper and repeatedly slammed on his brakes in an apparent attempt to cause a collision.
After confirming that no vehicles were approaching, the trooper performed a PIT maneuver. The move pushed Troiano’s pickup off the right side of the road, but authorities said he regained control and continued east on SW Archer Road.
MORE STORY: Tim Anderson Honored by White Sox With Wife and Kids Present
The trooper then positioned his patrol vehicle along the left side of the pickup and, after again checking for oncoming traffic, attempted another PIT maneuver. This time, the truck left the roadway on the north side, overturned and struck a utility pole.
The trooper parked across the westbound lane to secure the scene as officers initiated a felony stop. Troiano was ordered to exit with his hands visible, but authorities said he refused. At one point, the trooper reported seeing both hands: one appeared empty, while the other held an unidentified object.
Deputies and troopers moved toward the overturned pickup, and one trooper broke a window. Troiano eventually exited the vehicle, was taken into custody and transported to an emergency room for medical clearance.
In Alachua County, Troiano faces charges of fleeing with emergency lights and sirens activated, resisting an officer without violence, driving without a valid license and reckless driving. Officials have not yet posted charges from other counties. Troiano has seven nonviolent felony convictions and one nonviolent misdemeanor conviction, served one state prison sentence and was released in 2014. He was also on pretrial release from a March 2026 arrest involving allegations that he stalked a former girlfriend. Judge Adam Lee set bail at $100,000.