| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: FELIX, REYSON 1284\t\t(AR16-21327) THE DRIVER OF ANY VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A CRASH RESULTING ONLY IN DAMAGE TO A VEHICLE OR OTHER PROPERTY DRIVEN OR ATTENDED BY ANY PERSON, SHALL IMMEDIATELY STOP SUCH VEHICLE AT THE SCENE OF SUCH CRASH OR AS CLOSE THERETO AS POSSIBLE, AND SHALL, FORTHWITH RETURN TO AND IN EVERY EVENT SHALL REMAIN AT THE SCENE OF THE CRASH UNTIL HE HAD FULFILLED THE REQUIREMENTS OF FLORIDA STATE STATUTE NUMBER 316.061(1). ON 101516, I WAS DISPATCHED TO CITRUS HIGH SCHOOL LOCATED IN INVERNESS AT 600 WEST HIGHLAND BOULEVARD FOR A HIT AND RUN THAT HAD JUST OCCURRED. WHILE I WAS IN ROUTE TO THE HIT AND RUN, I WAS ADVISED BY DETECTIVE LAHERA (0673), WHO WAS ON SCENE, THAT THE DEFENDANT, LATER IDENTIFIED AS MS COURTNEY HARTNAGEL, HAD RETURNED TO THE SCENE. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE SCENE, I MADE CONTACT WITH THE VICTIM, MS KATHLEEN SMITH, WHO ADVISED THAT SHE WAS COACHING A GAME AND WAS ADVISED BY A WITNESS, LATER IDENTIFIED AS MS AMBER BOUTON, THAT HER CAR HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN AND THAT THE SUSPECT HAD TAKEN OFF IN A POSSIBLY GREEN FORD EXPLORER. WHILE I WAS ON SCENE, I OBSERVED MINIMUM DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE VICTIMâS THE VEHICLE. I COULD ALSO OBSERVE HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE POLE THAT THE DEFENDANT HIT AND PART OF HER RIGHT TAILLIGHT WAS LEFT ON SCENE. DETECTIVE LAHERA MADE CONTACT WITH WITNESS, MS AMBER BOUTON, WHO ADVISED THAT SHE WAS UNLOADING A FEW ITEMS FROM HER VEHICLE WHEN SHE SAW THE DEFENDANT BACK HER VEHICLE INTO THE VICTIMâS VEHICLE AND THEN HITTING THE POLE CAUSING THE TAILLIGHT ON THE DEFENDANTâS VEHICLE TO BREAK AND SOME OF THE DEBRIS HIT THE LEG OF THE WITNESSâ SON. WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THE WITNESS TRIED TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE DEFENDANT BY WAVING AND YELLING AT HER TELLING HER TO STOP, BUT THE DEFENDANT LOOKED AT THE WITNESS AND NEVER STOPPED. WITNESS ADVISED THAT THE DEFENDANT WOULD HAVE HIT HER SON IF NOT FOR THE POLE. THE WITNESS ALSO ADVISED THAT HER SON WAS NOT INJURED. I THEN MADE CONTACT WITH DETECTIVE LAHERA, WHO ADVISED THIS DEPUTY THAT THE DEFENDANT HAD COME BACK APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES LATER AND HE HAS WITH HER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT WAITING FOR THIS DEPUTY TO MAKE CONTACT WITH HER. I THEN MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT, WHO ADVISED THIS DEPUTY THAT THE REASON WHY SHE NEVER STOPPED WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS GOING TO GET UNIFORM PANTS FOR HER SON THAT WAS PLAYING TODAY THAT HE HAD FORGOTTEN. I THEN ASKED THE DEFENDANT IF SHE EVER SAW THE WITNESS WAVING AND YELLING FOR HER TO STOP, TO WHICH SHE ADVISED NO. I THEN ASKED THE DEFENDANT IF SHE KNEW THAT SHE HAD HIT A CAR AND A POLE AND SHE ADVISED YES. AT THAT TIME, I ADVISED BOTH PARTIES INVOLVED THAT I HAD FINISHED MY TRAFFIC CRASH INVESTIGATION AND ADVISED THE DEFENDANT THAT SHE WAS BEING PLACED UNDER ARREST FOR HIT AND RUN. AT THAT TIME, THE DEFENDANT WAS PLACED IN HANDCUFFS (DOUBLE LOCKED) SEARCHED AND SEATED IN THE REAR SEAT OF MY PATROL VEHICLE AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY FOR BOOKING AND PROCESSING. THE DEFENDANT WAS ISSUED UNIFORM TRAFFIC CITATION NUMBER A44KK8E FOR LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT WITH A MANDATORY COURT DATE OF 110316 AT 1300 HOURS. THE DEFENDANTâS BOND WAS SET AT $500.00, PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. THE DEFENDANTâS VEHICLE WAS LEFT ON SCENE PER HER INSTRUCTION NO FURTHER ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THIS DEPUTY. |
