Windermere officer victim of hit-and-run crash, police say

Sgt. Mark Destefano sore following accident

OCOEE, Fla. – A Windermere officer was the victim of a hit-and-run Tuesday morning while driving on State Road 50, police said.

A vehicle broad-sided Sgt. Mark Destefano's vehicle at the entrance of a Hardees restaurant in Ocoee before leaving the scene of the crash, officers said.

Windermere police Chief David Ogden said Destefano was sore and stiff following the crash.

"When he went across the second lane of travel, he was hit by a vehicle. (It) did some pretty good damage to our vehicle," Ogden said. "The officer's OK. Thank God, he's OK. He's safe."

Shortly after the crash, a nearby deputy saw the vehicle driving recklessly down State Road 50, but was unaware that the driver had been involved in the hit-and-run, police said.

The driver proceeded to crash into another car near Hiawassee Road and kept driving until the car was abandoned in the Pine Hills area, authorities said.

The deputy was able to positively identify the owner of the suspect vehicle, a 2004 Chevrolet Colorado, as the man who was seen leaving the scene of the crash. An arrest warrant has been issued for Scott Edward Mitchell, 49, the owner of the vehicle, police said.

Records show that Mitchell has an extensive criminal history in Lake County. He's been arrested six times since 2007 on charges ranging from drug possession to forgery and fraud.

"Someone like that needs to be off the street right now," Ogden said. "We need to figure out what's going on."

Ocoee police will be in charge of the investigation, according to Windermere police.

Anyone with information about the crash or Mitchell's whereabouts is asked to contact the Ocoee Police Department at 407-905-3160 or Crimeline at 800-423-8477.

 


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