Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Early this morning, Joseph Daniel Miranda, 32, was taken into custody after allegedly colliding with another vehicle on I-75 while driving under the influence at speeds exceeding 120 mph. Upon searching his car, police discovered drugs in quantities indicating distribution, leading to additional charges.
At approximately 11:20 p.m. on August 16, a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper responded to a crash at the southbound 386 mile marker of I-75. The trooper found Miranda in the back of an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office patrol car. A deputy reported that Miranda appeared highly intoxicated and had been driving over 120 mph in a 70-mph zone, witnessing him rear-ending another vehicle. This collision caused both vehicles to lose control and veer off the road.
The trooper noted Miranda’s speech was slurred making him difficult to understand. Miranda reportedly stated that as he traveled southbound on I-75 and shifted lanes to the outside lane, he lost vehicle control and crashed. After being informed of his rights, he declined to make further statements or participate in field sobriety exercises.
Miranda was taken to a hospital, where he refused to consent to a urine sample. Once medically cleared, he was brought to jail.
Meanwhile, the deputy detected the odor of marijuana within the vehicle and noticed an open bottle of Don Julio liquor on the passenger floorboard. A search revealed 174 grams of marijuana in one large container and three smaller bags of about 30 grams each. Additionally, the search uncovered 5 grams of cocaine, empty baggies, a scale, and approximately $1,725 in cash, mainly in $20 bills. The deputy remarked that $20 bills are commonly used in street-level drug deals. A shotgun shell was also discovered in the glove box.
Miranda faces charges including DUI, DUI with property damage, reckless driving over 100 mph, reckless driving with property damage, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of cocaine, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell. He has two prior felony convictions (one violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent). In January 2023, he was sentenced to two years in state prison for charges in two cases, including aggravated assault, and was released in July 2024. Judge Johnson set his bail on the new charges at $115,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
