A Florida woman was recently arrested after committing two of the same crimes for which she had previously been charged and released on bond, according to law enforcement in the Sunshine State.
Kristin Ann Mittelstadt, 35, is charged with six counts, including fleeing to elude, knowingly driving with a suspended or revoked license, driving with a suspended or revoked license as a habitual offender, fleeing with reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Polk County Jail records.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office issued a tongue-in-cheek press release acknowledging the defendant’s repeated charges.
“Mittlestadt told deputies that she fled because she knew that if she got caught, she would likely be going to jail for a long time,” according to the announcement. “She may have thought that due to the fact that she was already out on bond for Fleeing to Elude and Knowingly Driving While License Suspended/Revoked.”
The incident occurred in the early evening hours near the intersection of Rolling Hills Court East and Masterpiece Road in Lake Wales, a small city located about 60 miles east of Tampa.
According to an affidavit complaint filed in Polk County court, a deputy noticed Mittelstadt “swaying left of the middle of the roadway” in a silver Ford Mustang convertible and briefly followed behind it before attempting a traffic stop.
“I utilized my patrol vehicles’ emergency lights and sirens to conduct this attempted traffic stop,” according to the deputy. “The vehicle then increased speed from approximately 40 Mph to 60 Mph and fled.”
According to the sheriff’s office, the defendant allegedly exceeded the speed limit while giving chase, but only barely. Then it got a little worse.
As the woman approached a highway intersection with other vehicles backed up “approximately 100 yards,” the fleeing car “proceeded into oncoming traffic briefly until cutting through the Sunoco Gas station parking lot.”
The first deputy then lost track of Mittelstadt, according to the affidavit.
Other deputies soon arrived, and the Mustang was discovered again — still on Masterpiece Road.
Again, law enforcement attempted a traffic stop, and Mittelstadt allegedly sped away from the flashing lights and wailing sirens, according to the affidavit.
To end the chase, the deputies used a technique known as the “PIT maneuver” (Precision Immobilization Technique), in which another vehicle forces the fleeing vehicle into an abrupt sideways turn, causing the pursued car’s driver to lose control.
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The sheriff’s office reports that Mittelstadt was arrested and Mirandized. Then she allegedly expressed concerns about her continued liberty.
“Post Miranda warning, Kristin advised she had fled from law enforcement because she did not want to go back to jail for her driver’s license,” according to the witness statement. “Kristin stated that she knew her Florida driver’s license had been revoked. Kristin also admitted to smoking some methamphetamine earlier that day.
The sheriff’s office claims the defendant’s driver’s license has been revoked since 2009.
Mittelstadt is currently detained on a $12,000 bond.
