Stolen vehicle suspect attempts to drive over Ocoee police officer

A man was arrested Monday night in Ocoee, suspected of stealing a vehicle and attempting to injure a police officer with the same vehicle.

Gregoria Junior Salazar, 27, of Winter Garden faces multiple charges including attempted battery on a law enforcement officer, grand theft auto, fleeing and eluding, and other charges, according to Orange County Jail records.

Ocoee Police officer Leo Edwards was on patrol when he observed a 2012 silver Audi he believed to have been a stolen vehicle parked in a lot at 425 W. Silver Star Road, according to Ocoee Police.

As Edwards approached the vehicle, a man, later identified as Salazar, ran toward the Audi after he saw Edwards driving in a marked police car toward the Audi, said Deputy Chief Saima Plasencia.

Edwards pulled over his squad car and angled it in front of the parked Audi, Plasencia said. Salazar ran inside the Audi and proceeded to accelerate toward Edwards, Plasencia said.

Edwards managed to avoid being struck but did suffer a hand injury, Plasencia said.

Salazar then began driving eastbound on Silver Star Road with a female passenger later identified as Nicole Leigh Blankenship, Plasencia said.

Ocoee officers were able to find the Audi at the intersection of Clarke Road and Silver Star Road, but Salazar drove off again this time driving south on Clarke Road, Plasencia said.

Officers were able to end the chase with stop sticks deployed on Colonial Drive at the State Road 408 entrance, Plasencia said.

Salazar and Blankenship fled on foot but were apprehended shortly after by police.

Blankenship was also arrested and taken to Orange County Jail, records show. She faces two charges - trespassing in a conveyance and resisting without violence.

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