OCALA, FL (352today.com) – A man with a history of driving infractions added several new entries to his chronology of alleged criminal activity.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) says 34-year-old Alexander Luis Jimenez-Torres of Belleview led deputies on a high-speed chase in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 1.

What happened
The sheriff’s office says Jimenez-Torres was driving a burgundy sedan traveling southbound on Highway 441, weaving in between the two lanes briefly and capturing the attention of authorities. They say he eventually merged into the inside lane in front of another vehicle without signaling.

MCSO says he continued to drive erratically, eventually driving off the roadway and onto a grassy median. Deputies say they believed the driver was either experiencing a medical emergency or impaired. It was at that time law enforcement activated the emergency lights on their vehicle and attempted to pull him over on South Pine Avenue in Ocala.

According to the sheriff’s office, he didn’t slow down or acknowledge the pursuing deputy. At this stage, the police report indicates the officer activated his siren. They say the driver continued to flee, going through a red light at the intersection of South Pine and Southeast 80th Street, increasing his speed as he continued southbound.

The pursuing deputy says at one point he was driving at a rate of 121 mph.

A deputy down the road at the 5300 block of South Pine Ave successfully deployed stop sticks, puncturing multiple tires on the car.

At that stage, they say he pulled into a gas station that was closed, got out of the car and started running toward the McDonald’s next door.

Deputies say the man approached a white Jeep in the drive-thru and then scurried around the building where a deputy tased and then arrested him.

Deputies say they searched his vehicle and found a golden-brown liquid which smelled like alcohol.

At the jail, the deputy says he observed blood-shot eyes, slurred speech and the scent of alcohol from his breath.

Law enforcement requested he perform a sobriety test, and provide a breath sample, both of which he declined.

Deputies say Jimenez-Torres told them the reason he didn’t stop was because he didn’t want to go to jail. They say he said he knew that his license was suspended.

The charges
MCSO charged him with:

  • felony fleeing and eluding law enforcement at high speed
  • felony driving with a suspended or revoked license
  • misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • misdemeanor for resisting arrest
  • obstructing an arresting officer without violence

Records indicate this is his third consecutive violation of driving on a suspended or revoked license. According to court records, his license was first suspended when he was 16 years old.

Bond was set at $9,500. He was released after posting bail on June 2.