A Cocoa man led police on a wild chase down I-95 on May 6, spanning two counties using two separate, stolen cop cars.
The chase began in Brevard County after Cocoa officers responded to a report of a disturbance at a local motel. Police stopped 33-year-old Xavier Javern Cummings, but during the course of their conversation, Cummings managed to jump into an unlocked police car and take off. Cummings pulled onto the interstate to start a 60-mile long chase that crossed into Volusia County.
At one point, Cocoa officers were able to force Cummings off the road by nudging the stolen car's passenger-side rear fender. Cummings lost control of the car and crashed into the woods. When the police attempted to close in on Cummings, he bolted from the trees and jumped into another cop car.
"The suspect and the vehicle were in the wooded area just off the highway. As officers attempted to take the suspect into custody, he fled, jumped into another Cocoa patrol vehicle and continued north," the Cocoa police department shared in a statement.
Sections of I-95 were closed to aid in the chase and stop sticks were deployed to puncture the second stolen vehicle's tires. Cummings was taken into custody around the Oak Hill area. He faces multiple charges related to grand theft auto and fleeing police, as well as several charges tied to illegal possession of a firearm.
– Stay on top of Central Florida news and views with our weekly newsletters, and consider supporting this free publication. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you Central Florida news, and every little bit helps.
Since 1990, Orlando Weekly has served as the free, independent voice of Orlando, and we want to keep it that way.
Becoming an Orlando Weekly Supporter for as little as $5 a month allows us to continue offering readers access to our coverage of local news, food, nightlife, events, and culture with no paywalls.
