An Easter Sunday gathering at Northland Church in Longwood turned chaotic when a woman allegedly struck two people with her vehicle in the church parking lot. One of those hit was a parking staff member, and the other was an off-duty Seminole County deputy who was working traffic control. The woman was stopped a short time later and taken into custody, and local authorities say she now faces multiple felony counts.
What authorities say
According to WESH, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office says an off-duty deputy witnessed a woman, later identified by local outlets as Jill Sinay, strike a parking staff member with her car before driving on. Investigators say the deputy approached and ordered the vehicle to stop, at which point the driver allegedly accelerated, hit the deputy in the knee, and then fled the scene. Deputies followed with lights and sirens and stopped the vehicle at a nearby intersection, according to the outlet.
How the arrest unfolded
Local station Local12 reports officers say the woman resisted when they tried to take her into custody, allegedly kicking and scratching deputies during the arrest. WKRC reports she was booked on counts that include aggravated battery on a law-enforcement officer, fleeing police, and hit-and-run with injury.
Charges and potential penalties
Those offenses carry significant exposure under Florida law. Aggravated battery on a law-enforcement officer is reclassified to a first-degree felony with a mandatory minimum term under state statute. Florida Statutes also outline enhanced penalties for assaults and batteries on officers, while state driving guidance explains that leaving the scene of a crash that causes injury and fleeing or eluding an officer are felony offenses with potential multi-year sentences. FLHSMV and the Florida Legislature have updated penalties for hit-and-run and eluding offenses in recent years.
