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Teen gets house arrest for chase that injured Marco officer
Thomas Darrick Green also was ordered to pay $7,000 in restitution for four accidents, with the majority for an injured Marco Police officer
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MARCO ISLAND An 18-year-old Seminole County boy who led Marco Island police on a roughly 20-minute chase, crashing four times and injuring an officer, has been sentenced to house arrest and probation after a prosecutor and defense attorney urged leniency.
As part of a plea agreement, Collier Circuit Judge Fred Hardt also ordered Thomas Darrick Green, now 19, of Oviedo, to pay $7,000 in restitution, with $6,600 of that to Officer Wilfredo Artiles, who suffered a concussion and soft tissue damage and had to undergo physical therapy. Green must pay at least $50 monthly.
He’d faced up to 20 years total on the highest charges, second- and third-degree felonies, but was sentenced as part of a plea agreement negotiated by Assistant State Attorney Lisa Mead and Assistant Public Defender John Walsh. As part of the agreement, a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest was dropped.
Hardt sentenced the teen to two years of house arrest and three years of probation for leaving the scene of a crash with injury, two years of house arrest and eight years of probation for high-speed fleeing to elude, and 50 days in the county jail — time served — on each of three misdemeanor counts of leaving the scene of a crash with property damage.
The seven-mile chase just after noon on March 21 lasted about 20 minutes, police reports say, and reached speeds of 50 mph on the 24-mile island, where posted speeds are 35 mph or less.
Green caused four accidents, including the one that injured Artiles, and was found about five hours later. Police reports give this account:
The chase began at 12:01 p.m. March 21, when Officer George Guyer stopped a 2007 Pontiac G5 at 300 S. Collier Blvd. because it matched a vehicle containing a 17-year-old runaway who was being sought.
Guyer talked with Green and the passenger and determined he was the runaway, Martin Covert, 17, of Oviedo. But Green sped off.
Guyer pursued the car and was joined by other marked police cars with sirens and flashing red lights. At Palm and Eddington streets, Green sideswiped Artiles’ police car, causing damage to the vehicle and injuries to Artiles.
“Guyer was forced to pull off the roadway to avoid a head-on collision with (Green’s) vehicle,” the report said.
The chase continued and Green caused another accident at Collier Boulevard and Kendall Drive, but continued north on Kendall, running through gates at Hideaway Beach, damaging the gates and continuing on a dead-end street until the car hit palm trees and a telephone junction box at 395 Periwinkle Court, where the teens then fled on foot, the report said.
Marco officers surrounded the area and called in a Collier County Sheriff’s Office helicopter and K-9 to track the boys. Green was located at 5 p.m. at 710 Kendall Drive, but Covert wasn’t found.
Green confessed to all the offenses, telling Marco Detective Glenn Zirgibel that he was free on bond on a burglary charge in Seminole County and knew there was a warrant out for his arrest for failing to appear in court on a petty theft charge. He said he didn’t want to get arrested, so he fled.
Artiles was treated at a Physicians Regional Medical Center hospital for a concussion.
Green remained in jail until April 14, when he posted $26,250 bond.
In court this past week, after hearing details about the chase, Hardt initially questioned why he should accept the plea agreement.
“You have someone who was barely 18 who made an extremely poor decision,” Mead told the judge, noting that the burglary occurred immediately before that.
Mead pointed out that Green would have a criminal record with a felony conviction for this crime and already served 50 days in jail.
“He’s going to serve two years of house arrest, which, your honor, is no easy feat,” Mead said, noting that it would be served at his parents’ home in Orlando. “... He’s going to be a convicted felon, which will have ramifications for the rest of his life.”
She blamed his age for his bad decision to flee.
Hardt then imposed the sentence and Green was fingerprinted and left with his mother and young brother. Defense lawyer Walsh declined comment.

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I don't get the courts in Collier. They throw the book at people for speeding. However if you break and enter, go on a police chase, hurt the officer and do all of this as a legal adult. You do house arrest. Makes perfect sense huh?
#1 Posted by Marcosnook03 on October 5, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
people get away with murder here.
#2 Posted by islandman4now on October 5, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Several spectators in the courtroom said ,"After the sentence was handed down, Green was heard to say," Gee, Thanks Uncle Fred!"
#3 Posted by hourigan82247 on October 6, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
it only makes sense. i find it funny how in this county they take pride in saying that things are done the right way. not the east coast way or northern way they say. because here in collier things are by the book. this proves they are all a bunch of fakes and only throw the book at people that aren't part of the good ol' boy network. as dirty or dirtier than any east coast town i've seen.
#4 Posted by Marcosnook03 on October 6, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My comments for the Judge would be completely censored by the NDN. Use your imagination.
#5 Posted by smiley on October 6, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wow. when one of their own are hurt the police are quick to file charges. my dad was killed by a kid with oxy and pot in his system, my mom is still recovering and we got no justice and no restitution. guess this poor kid just didnt know the right people.
#6 Posted by cohea on October 6, 2008 at 8:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think we can all agree that the justice system here makes no sense. I am sorry for your loss, I was extremely upset that the case ended that way. I would take it into my own hands and go civil court.
#7 Posted by Marcosnook03 on October 7, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's see now! At $50.00 a month for a total of $13,600 in fines and penalties; works out to be 272 months; which works out to be 22yrs. 8months. Sounds like a long time to keep this case on the books. But hey, I'm sure Judge Hardt knew what he was doing. NOT!!!
#8 Posted by hourigan82247 on October 9, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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