A 35-year-old Lake Mary man who deputies say punched it to avoid a January traffic stop on Interstate 4 did not stay ahead of the law for long. Weeks after that high-speed attempt to slip away, deputies spotted the same car back on I-4 and arrested the driver, identified as David Morris Reback, during a February traffic stop in Polk County. He now faces several criminal charges.
The first run-in started around 4 p.m. on Jan. 20, when a deputy saw a black 2019 Nissan heading westbound on I-4 near Lakeland and tried to pull it over. According to deputies, the driver refused to stop, briefly slowed when a patrol car pulled alongside, then hit the gas again and began weaving through traffic until deputies broke off the pursuit for safety reasons, as reported by Tampa Free Press.
Same Car, Same Stretch, Different Ending
On Feb. 11 around 2 p.m., deputies say they spotted that same black Nissan on the same stretch of I-4 and flipped on their emergency lights. This time, the driver pulled over. During the stop, Reback allegedly resisted as deputies tried to handcuff him before he was taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center, according to AOL.
“Didn’t Want To Go Back”: Alleged Motive And Past Case
Once in custody, Reback allegedly told deputies he had taken off in January because he did not want to go back to jail, according to Tampa Free Press. Court records also show an earlier appeal filed under his name, per Leagle, hinting at prior experience with the court system.
I-4 Crackdown Sets The Stage
Local agencies in Polk County have been intensifying enforcement along I-4 to rein in extreme speeds and risky driving. Deputies have warned that very high speeds can cross the line into criminal territory and land drivers in jail, WFLA reported. That stepped-up patrol presence helps explain why deputies were closely watching the same stretch of highway where Reback ultimately stopped.
Reback faces charges that include third-degree fleeing to elude, resisting an officer without violence, reckless driving and driving with a suspended or revoked license, according to court records. He was booked into the Polk County Sheriff’s Processing Center, and bond and court-date details were not immediately available in public records.
