The late-night crowd in downtown Bradenton got smoked when police said a driver turned Main Street into his own burnout pit.
Audio By Carbonatix
It was about 2 a.m. when officers with the Bradenton Police Department’s Crime Reduction Team heard a truck hammer its throttle and saw a silver pickup fly south on 12th Street.
The driver, identified as 28-year-old Juan Leon, swerved past pedestrians and officers standing nearby after running a stop sign at Fourth Avenue.
He corrected just before reaching Manatee Avenue, where a red light forced him to stop. Instead of cooling off, Leon spun the tires in the crosswalk, filling the intersection with smoke.
Police said the truck lurched forward, forcing officers to step back.
Leon later explained that he wanted to “impress girls.” Officers were not impressed
A patrol unit moved in as he pulled away, and police followed until Leon stopped and was detained.
According to police, Leon performed field sobriety tests but declined a breathalyzer. He was booked on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, along with DUI and reckless driving charges.
Police also added a criminal mischief charge because the burnout damaged the city’s decorative crosswalk, which requires specialized repair
Video released by the department shows the pickup’s tires squealing in the crosswalk before smoke clouds the view. Police said pedestrians were on the corners nearby, raising the risk well beyond cosmetic street damage.
Leon was taken to the Manatee County Jail and released the same day on $15,500 bond. His arraignment is scheduled for October 31 at the Manatee County Judicial Center.
Police noted that additional charges are possible once the estimate for repairing the crosswalk comes in.
