Woman arrested after pursuit along I-75 and 441

Staff report

ALACHUA, Fla. – Jennifer Caren Dotzler, 23, was arrested yesterday after allegedly fleeing from law enforcement officers along I-75 and U.S. Hwy 441; she was eventually arrested in Alachua after deputies boxed in her vehicle.

At about 1:19 p.m. on July 20, a man waved down an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy on SW Archer Road and said his girlfriend, later identified as Dotzler, was driving the gray SUV in front of him; he said she had been acting “odd” since the previous night, her driving was erratic, and she had cut off other vehicles. He later reportedly told law enforcement that Dotzler had been using narcotics for multiple days.

The gray SUV entered I-75 northbound, and the deputy followed. The deputy reported that the gray SUV followed another vehicle too closely and changed lanes multiple times without signaling; the vehicle also traveled onto the shoulder multiple times. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and then requested assistance at Exit 387 (Newberry Road) when the gray SUV failed to stop and continued swerving onto the shoulder and then re-entering traffic. The gray SUV got off at Exit 390 (NW 39th Avenue), where the deputy terminated his pursuit based on increased danger to the public.

A short time later, the deputy saw the gray SUV stopped at a red light and positioned his patrol vehicle next to the SUV, with lights and sirens activated; he also gave verbal and PA announcements to the driver, and she reportedly looked at him before driving away when the light turned green.

The gray SUV was later located when it exited I-75 in Alachua and traveled northbound (west from I-75) on U.S. Hwy 441. The SUV reportedly forced multiple drivers off the road as it swerved between lanes while fleeing from law enforcement. Officers from multiple agencies attempted to box in the SUV at the intersection of CR 235A and U.S. Hwy 441, and the original deputy placed his vehicle in contact with the rear of the SUV, but Dotzler allegedly drove through the grass median to continue fleeing around another patrol vehicle. The deputy noted that this was in an active construction zone, “demonstrating a wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property.”

The original deputy took the lead in the pursuit, which reportedly reached 67 mph; as the SUV prepared to turn at NW 188th Street, it briefly came to a stop, and the original deputy made contact with the front of the SUV with his push bumper while other deputies and officers boxed in the SUV.

Click here for ASO’s video of the pursuit. The video below shows the final immobilization of her vehicle.

Once her vehicle was immobilized, Dotzler allegedly refused to get out, shaking her head “no” and turning up her music. She allegedly tried to drive out of the situation by accelerating against patrol vehicles. Other deputies eventually approached the SUV, deployed OC spray, and took Dotzler into custody.

Dotzler reportedly stated spontaneously that she was trying to drive to her house (off 188th Street), even though she knew she had to stop for emergency lights. She said she had not done anything wrong and that she would not be going to jail. The deputy noted that her eyes were bloodshot and watery, and her speech was slowed, slurred, and mumbled at times. Dotzler was transported to a local hospital.

Dotzler has been charged with fleeing with disregard for the safety of others, fleeing at high speed with lights and sirens activated, and resisting an officer without violence. She has no criminal history, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $330,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.