What started as a routine check at a RaceTrac off State Road 16 turned into a high-speed takedown on Interstate 95 on Thursday, after deputies say a stolen SUV rammed a patrol car and then tried to outrun the law.
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office reports that 38-year-old Joseph Grillo was arrested after a pursuit that began at the gas station and headed south on I-95. Deputies say the driver hit an SJSO patrol vehicle at the RaceTrac, then sped off before deputies used a PIT maneuver south of mile marker 311 to stop the SUV. Authorities say the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Orlando and that Grillo now faces multiple felony charges, including aggravated battery on a law-enforcement officer, resisting with violence, fleeing and eluding, and grand theft of a motor vehicle.
Sheriff's account and photos
According to a detailed post by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, deputies first spotted the stolen SUV at the RaceTrac on SR-16. When they moved in, the driver allegedly slammed into an SJSO patrol vehicle and then took off southbound on I-95 at a high rate of speed, with deputies in pursuit.
The agency says units performed a PIT maneuver near mile marker 311, spinning the SUV and bringing the chase to an end on the interstate. Photos shared in the sheriff's post show what officials identify as the damaged patrol unit and the recovered SUV after the stop.
Charges and penalties under state law
The sheriff's office reports that Grillo faces a list of felony counts, including aggravated battery on a law-enforcement officer, resisting with violence, fleeing and eluding, and grand theft of a motor vehicle. Aggravated battery and the enhanced penalties that apply when the victim is a first responder are addressed in Chapter 784 of the Florida Statutes, which provides for tougher punishment and, in some situations, mandatory minimum sentences.
Fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement in a vehicle is prohibited under Florida Statute §316.1935, which lays out escalating penalties depending on circumstances such as high speeds or crashes. Theft of a motor vehicle is treated under the state's general theft law, Florida Statute §812.014, which can classify the crime as a felony based on the property involved and prior history.
Suspect identity and alleged gang ties
In its St. Johns County Sheriff's Office post, the agency identifies the suspect as 38-year-old Joseph Grillo and says he is documented as a Folk Nation gang member from North Carolina. Deputies say he was taken into custody at the scene after the PIT maneuver and booked on the listed felony charges. The sheriff's office also shared additional scene photos to illustrate the sequence of events.
Investigators did not release information about injuries in the public post and noted that the investigation is still active.
Grillo remains in custody and is expected to face prosecution in St. Johns County. As booking records, court filings, or additional official statements become available, more details about the case are likely to emerge. This story will be updated if new public records add significant information.
