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By Staff Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 32-year-old woman, Tia Misel Cooks, was taken into custody on allegations that she drove off with a parking boot still attached to her vehicle, damaging the device, and subsequently evaded police attempting to stop her.
The incident unfolded around 3:29 p.m. on January 9, when an officer from the Gainesville Police Department was approached by a tow truck driver. The driver had immobilized a white Toyota Corolla parked in a tow-away zone on the 200 block of SW 2nd Avenue. According to reports, the car was driven off with the boot still attached, resulting in damage.
Authorities attempted to pull over the Corolla on the 100 block of SW 6th Street. However, the driver did not comply, prompting the officer to discontinue the chase.
Shortly thereafter, police received multiple reports of a white Corolla speeding and dangerously maneuvering by crossing double yellow lines to overtake other vehicles.
Officers eventually located the vehicle near NW 73rd Avenue and NW 49th Street. Once stopped, the tow truck driver identified Cooks as the individual who had driven away with the boot still on her car.
Cooks reportedly told an officer that she had returned to exchange words with the tow truck driver before leaving the downtown area, and she showed the officer a video of the conversation; she said she left the area after that.
Cooks reportedly admitted to an officer that she had fled from the traffic stop because she “felt like she did not need to stop because she did not do anything.” She also reportedly said nobody else drove the Corolla that day.
Cooks has been charged with fleeing from a police officer and misdemeanor property damage. She has no criminal convictions, but she is on pre-trial release on charges of property damage and trespassing after a warning. Judge Donna Keim set bail at $11,000.
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.
