Port St. Lucie - Wednesday June 29, 2022: Port St. Lucie Police Officer have arrested 19-year-old Raphael Cardona of Port St. Lucie for grand theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated assault, criminal mischief, and resisting an officer.
According to a release from the from the PSL Police Department, at 5:51 pm Tuesday afternoon two workers, who had just finished a job in the 700-Blk of NW Sable St., called 911 to report that someone had just driven off in their truck and trailer which had a Bobcat on it.
The workers told police the suspect was on foot and got into their truck, which was parked on the street, and then drove off with the trailer and Bobcat still attached. The workers ran to another vehicle and gave chase.
View video clip of the workers watching as their truck and trailer with Bobcat drive by them > https://fb.watch/dYmJYj5KKj/.
Cardona, driving the stolen vehicle, got stuck in traffic at Bayshore Blvd and Prima Vista Blvd. One of the workers in the vehicle chasing after him got out and and ran up next to the stolen truck and yelled at Cardona to stop. Cardona then swerved the truck towards the worker, nearly hitting him, according to the release. The worker then pulled out his hand gun and fired two shots striking the vehicle, but not Cardona who continued traveling west on Saint Lucie West Blvd.
Cardona then attempted a U-Turn at Saint Lucie West Blvd and Country Club Drive where he struck a white Toyota traveling east. The Toyota then crashed into a red Hyundai. The trailer rolled over, Cardona then got out of the stolen truck and fled on foot.
An alert Port St. Lucie Police Sergeant in the area saw the crash, called for backup, and gave chase. Cardona ran through a golf course and was finally taken into custody in the 400-Blk of SW Fairway Landing. Cardona was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, grand theft of a motor vehicle, property damage and resisting arrest. He is now in the St. Lucie County Jail.
Officers later learned that Cardona had just walked away from a recovery center and was planning to travel to a family member’s home in the stolen truck. Cardona was arrested and is currently housed at the St. Lucie County Jail.
