Indiantown Man, 28, Fled Deputies, Then Slammed SUV Into Church Wall

A 28-year-old man is facing multiple felony charges after deputies say he refused to stop for a marked patrol unit, kept driving even after a PIT maneuver failed to slow him down, and ultimately crashed his SUV into the side of a church in the Village of Indiantown. Martin County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested Geremias Pascual following the pursuit, which tore through a residential neighborhood before ending at Restoration Baptist Church.

According to WPEC, deputies first spotted Pascual swerving onto the grass while traveling northbound on SW Washington Avenue, prompting them to attempt a stop. Pascual did not stop for deputies, and when they tried a PIT maneuver to slow the SUV, it failed and Pascual reportedly increased speed instead of pulling over. The chase eventually sent his SUV into a tree, then a power pole, before it struck the side of the church.

The crash destroyed the church's air-conditioning unit and caused thousands of dollars in damage, per the outlet's report. Restoration Baptist Church, located at 15451 SW 150th Street, is more than just a house of worship for the surrounding community — the congregation hosts a weekly food pantry every Tuesday in partnership with CROS Ministries, a nonprofit that partners with churches across South Florida to combat food insecurity.

Charges Stack Up After the Chase Ends

Deputies ordered Pascual to exit the vehicle after the crash, and he was ultimately charged with DUI, fleeing and eluding, and four counts of criminal mischief or property damage. The Martin County Sheriff's Office reported the alleged DUI and flight from police as the basis for the arrest, the same account notes.

The legal exposure tied to those charges is significant. Damaging a church, synagogue, mosque or other place of worship where the damage exceeds $200 is specifically classified as a third-degree felony under Florida Statute § 806.13(2), a provision that carves out enhanced penalties specifically for damage targeting religious institutions. Standard criminal mischief causing $1,000 or more in property damage is also a third-degree felony on its own, carrying up to five years in state prison and a $5,000 fine for each count.

Fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer in a marked patrol vehicle with lights and sirens activated is a third-degree felony under Florida Statute § 316.1935, punishable by up to five years in prison. That charge escalates to a second-degree felony carrying up to 15 years if the fleeing is committed at high speed or with wanton disregard for safety, according to the statute. A baseline first-offense DUI conviction in Florida carries mandatory fines between $500 and $1,000, up to six months in jail, and an administrative license revocation of 180 days to one year, per the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

A Small Village Feels the Impact

The chase and crash unfolded in Indiantown, an incorporated village on the western end of Martin County along SW Washington Avenue. Indiantown became Florida's youngest municipality when it incorporated on December 31, 2017, and is home to a rural population of roughly 6,560 residents, according to the Village of Indiantown. The community traces its roots to a 19th-century Seminole trading post before its eventual incorporation.

In a rural village of that size, damage to a church that also serves as a food distribution site carries added weight for residents who rely on it. The failed PIT maneuver in this case also fits into a broader statewide conversation: high-speed police pursuits on Florida roadways have resulted in at least 40 deaths over a four-year period, a toll that has fueled ongoing debate over chase policies and tactics like the PIT maneuver, as Hoodline has previously reported.

It remains unclear exactly how much repairing the church's air-conditioning system and structure will cost, and whether the State Attorney's Office will pursue additional charges or enhancements beyond the four counts already filed. Pascual's bond status and any scheduled court appearance had not been detailed in available reporting as of this writing.