Man running from police jumps off Seabreeze Bridge, cops say

Giovanni Calderdon Santiago, 25, arrested after domestic dispute, crash.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A man running from police after a domestic dispute crashed into three cars on top of the Seabreeze Bridge and then jumped off, according to the Daytona Beach Police Department.

Police said Giovanni Calderdon Santiago, 25, of Deltona, was in an altercation with his wife when a witness stepped forward to stop Santiago from battering his wife.

"I saw him swing at her and hit her and I saw him throw her to the ground and that was the end of the line for me," Salan said.

Police said Timothy Salan, 37, of Daytona Beach, stepped in to stop the fight. Santiago hit him repeatedly and then ran from the area.

"Pretty sure I broke my finger, knots, black eye, knees are all scraped up, pants all torn up, but I did stop him from beating her up, which makes me happy," Salan said.

Salan told News 6 he is a cab driver and was waiting for a fare when he witnessed the fight.

While speaking with police Salan pointed Santiago, who had returned to the area, out to police who proceeded to order him to stop, officers said.

Police said Sanitago ran from the officer, broke a window of his wife’s car, got behind the driver's seat, ran into a parked car and then tried to hit the officer and sped away.

Santiago traveled west over the Seabreeze Bridge and struck three additional cars on top of the bridge, causing serious injury to Angel Ruiz, 35, of Daytona Beach, police said.

Officers said Santiago then ran from the accident and jumped off the Seabreeze Bridge into the river.

Santiago left the river toward Beach Street and was detained by a K-9 officer. He was transported to Halifax Health Medical Center and is listed in critical condition.

Santiago has been arrested in the past for domestic violence.

Santiago was charged with fleeing injury, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and battery.


About the Authors:

Emmy-nominated journalist Kristin Cason joined the News 6 team in June 2016.