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Michael McNeal, who is currently facing charges related to an alleged kidnapping incident in South Florida, reportedly reached speeds exceeding 130 mph during a police pursuit, as stated by authorities.
PALATKA, Fla. — Accused of abducting a woman and her two young children, McNeal has been handed a 20-year prison sentence for his involvement in a high-speed chase across St. Johns and Putnam counties in March, according to a Monday announcement by the State Attorney’s Office for the Seventh Judicial Circuit.
Officials report that McNeal, 37, is still under scrutiny for charges tied to the purported kidnapping in Broward County.
The chase began on March 3 when deputies from St. Johns County were alerted by the Margate Police Department about a vehicle linked to the alleged kidnapping moving through their jurisdiction.
Deputies managed to spot the vehicle near the intersection of Interstate 95 and State Road 207.
According to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, McNeal, who was behind the wheel, attempted to evade capture by accelerating to dangerous speeds. At one point, he even drove against traffic on the interstate, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
“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.
