Share and Follow
Michael McNeal, who is currently facing charges related to an alleged kidnapping in South Florida, was reported to have driven over 130 mph during a police pursuit, according to authorities.
PALATKA, Fla. — A man accused of abducting a woman and her two young children has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after leading law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase across St. Johns and Putnam counties back in March, as reported by the State Attorney’s Office Seventh Judicial Circuit on Monday.
Michael McNeal, aged 37, is still under scrutiny for charges associated with the alleged kidnapping incident in Broward County, officials have stated.
The incident unfolded on March 3, when deputies in St. Johns County received a tip-off from the Margate Police Department regarding a vehicle linked to the alleged kidnapping, which was reportedly traveling through the area.
Authorities managed to track down the vehicle near the intersection of Interstate 95 and State Road 207.
McNeal, who was driving, fled from deputies at a “high rate of speed,” the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said. At one point, SJSO said McNeal was driving the wrong way on the interstate.
“During the pursuit, the vehicle reached speeds over 130 mph and almost crashed into multiple SJSO vehicles,” the SAO’s Seventh Judicial Circuit said in the release. “After entering Putnam County, the vehicle turned all its lights off and eventually crashed at North Highway 17 and Comfort Road while Putnam County Sheriff’s Office deputies were in pursuit.”
McNeal then ran away, as deputies began searching for him. The woman and two children he’s accused of kidnapping were inside the vehicle at the time, officials said, and were rescued when he ran from deputies.
Authorities said the children were unharmed during the incident, but were found not wearing their seatbelts. Meanwhile, officials said the woman was “beaten and choked.”
McNeal was later found hiding inside an open-bed tractor-trailer and arrested.
“The defendant is a dangerous individual who put the lives of a woman and her two small children in jeopardy,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said following McNeal’s sentencing. “I am grateful that our victims survived and for the substantial prison sentence. Folks who play with the lives of a mother and her children deserve the harshest of punishments.”
McNeal was found guilty and sentenced on charges of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude, false imprisonment, burglary of an occupied conveyance and two counts of culpable negligence.
