18-year-old suspect in Mount Dora chase, shootout booked into jail

Jonny Santiago, 18, faces several charges

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – An 18-year-old man accused of shooting at law enforcement after a chase that ended in Mount Dora was booked into the Orange County jail early Thursday, records show.

Volusia County deputies were searching for Jonny Santiago, 18, after they responded to a home in Deltona on Sunday. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said Jonny Santiago drove from authorities in several counties after deputies were called to his parents’ home in Deltona on Sunday.

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Santiago was moved from the Orange County jail to the Lake County jail, where he has charges stemming from Monday’s chase and shootout.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Jonny Santiago’s family was concerned about the way he was acting and his father, Juan Santiago, flew down from New York on July 10 to go to the home.

The man’s mother was on the phone with Juan Santiago when she heard the two arguing over the keys to a white Ford F-150 pickup truck and then gunshots before the call disconnected, Chitwood said.

The truck was seen in DeBary, Sanford and Mount Dora before law enforcement was able to take Jonny Santiago into custody, according to the sheriff’s office. Jonny Santiago led authorities on a chase before crashing into a synagogue and shooting at police, deputies said. Officers shot back at Jonny Santiago, injuring him, according to the sheriff’s office.

He was taken to the hospital afterward.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office released body camera and dashcam video of the incident in Mount Dora, showing the chase leading up to the shootout.

Jonny Santiago faces charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, discharging a firearm from a vehicle in public and aggravated fleeing and eluding lights and sirens.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently investigating.

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About the Author:

Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. She is the author of the Central Florida Happenings newsletter that goes out every Thursday.

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