Man in stolen sports car arrested after pursuit on U.S. 1

A 34-year-old Tampa, Florida man with six felony warrants out of Miami-Dade County was arrested Saturday morning after fleeing from Deputies and other law enforcement officers in a stolen Chevrolet Corvette.

Yorlandis Perez was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license and providing false identification to law enforcement.

The incident began at approximately 7:18 a.m. when a commercial truck driver reported a white Corvette passed him illegally in the southbound U.S. 1 lane near Mile Marker 27. Deputy Ty Torres located and stopped the Corvette near Mile Marker 23. There was a male driver, later identified as Perez, and a 26-year-old female passenger from Hialeah, Florida in the car.

Deputy Torres asked Perez for his driver’s license and vehicle documents. Perez and the female struggled to find the documents and appeared nervous. Perez then put the car in drive and speed away from the scene, northbound on U.S. 1.

Deputy Torres followed until he lost sight of the Corvette. A Florida Highway Patrol Trooper spotted the Corvette and attempted to stop it until terminating the pursuit due to public safety. The Trooper reported the Corvette was on the Seven Mile Bridge. Deputy Andrew Calderwood set up tire spikes on the north end of the Seven Mile Bridge. Deputy Calderwood estimated the Corvette was traveling far above 100 mph. The Corvette was spiked successfully, but it continued northbound on U.S. 1.

Sgt. Mark Jones reported the Corvette was traveling as fast as 150 mph in the center turn lane in Marathon. The Corvette turned into the Publix parking lot. Perez and the female passenger then fled on foot in different directions.

By this time multiple Deputies, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Key Colony Beach Police and the U.S. Border Patrol were all taking part in the search.

Perez was found shortly thereafter on neighboring apartment complex property.

Perez initially gave Deputy Torres a fake name, before admitting the car was stolen (out of Homestead, Florida). Perez then provided his real name.

Perez stated he fled because the Corvette was stolen and he had warrants out of Miami-Dade County.

The warrants were for failure to pay court-ordered financial obligations.

Perez was taken to jail.

The female passenger was not located. She is not facing any charges.

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