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Gulf Breeze police arrested a man living on Eglin Air Force Base Saturday after he allegedly hit multiple people at Pensacola Beach and led multiple agencies on a high-speed chase following the Pensacola Beach Air Show.
GBPD officers arrested 19-year-old Joan Vargas Rosario on charges of hit-and-run and fleeing officers after he allegedly led Escambia deputies on a chase from Pensacola Beach.
"ECSO deputies advised the Ford F-150 had reportedly struck multiple vehicles and pedestrians on Pensacola Beach and had refused to stop for them when they attempted a traffic stop continuing eastbound within the 1900 block of U.S. Highway 98," a GBPD report said.
After Vargas Rosario allegedly fled ECSO deputies and entered the city of Gulf Breeze, GBPD units began pursuing him with full lights and sirens activated, Gulf Breeze Police Chief Rick Hawthorne told the News Journal.
Officers say Vargas Rosario ran a red light on Gulf Breeze Parkway and continued at "a high rate of speed," passing cars on the shoulder of the roadway and hitting multiple curbs.
As Vargas Rosario approached the 300 block of Highway 98, police say he attempted to drive past a stopped police vehicle blocking his exit. That led to him losing control of the truck and "striking multiple utility poles, a fire hydrant, snapping a power guide line wire and colliding with a palm tree, uprooting it before coming to a stop."
Vargas Rosario allegedly attempted to flee on foot, forcing officers to tackle him and deploy a stun gun before taking him into custody.
Per the report, Vargas Rosario allegedly took the pickup truck from "another active-duty service member" while on Pensacola Beach.
Eglin Air Force Base confirmed to the News Journal that Vargas Rosario falls under the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT). A public affairs officer for Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), which oversees CNATT, told the News Journal that Vargas Rosario is a member of the U.S. Marine Corps.
The News Journal reached out to the Marine Corps but did not immediately receive a response.
Immediately following his arrest, Vargas Rosario performed a field sobriety test "in a satisfactory manner."
Florida Highway Patrol is additionally filing charges against Vargas Rosario for "several hit-and-run vehicle accidents" while on Pensacola Beach, according to the GBPD.
Vargas Rosario was released from Santa Rosa County Jail on $14,000 bond July 19.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Havoc on Pensacola Beach after driver hits vehicles, pedestrians, flees officers
