A Lakeland woman received numerous criminal charges after fleeing a simple traffic stop Saturday night, February 9, 2025.

At around 11:25 pm, a PCSO deputy noticed a Dodge Charger leaving a gas station parking lot with one working headlight, and no front bumper. The vehicle was then measured at 17 mph over the speed limit.

The deputy turned on his emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop, but the Charger sped up, began turning on various streets, and failed to stop at several stop signs.

The deputy performed a PIT maneuver, causing the Charger to spin. The Charger came to a stop after striking a mailbox and parked vehicle on Ruth Avenue in Lakeland.

Despite her resistance, the driver was secured in handcuffs. 

The driver was identified as 38-year old Tareva Thomas of Lakeland. 

Ms. Thomas' eyes were bloodshot and water, and she was not steady on her feet, so the deputy asked her to partake in a Field Sobriety Test. She did not fare well on the test.

The deputy found Ms. Thomas to be in possession of a marijuana roach and three Florida driver's licenses. Her license had been suspended since last year. 

Ms. Thomas was arrested and taken to the Polk County Jail, where she provided two breath samples. Both samples showed 0.00 breath alcohol content. She then provided a urine sample for drug testing, which will be sent away for testing.

Tareva Thomas was charged with:  Fleeing to Elude, DUI, Possession of a Concealed Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, Attaching a Tag Unassigned, Driving while License Suspended, Resisting Law Enforcement without Violence, and Possession of Marijuana under 20 Grams, plus citations for possessing more than one driver's license, possession of suspended driver's license, and having no insurance.

Ms. Thomas told the deputy that she fled from the traffic stop because she didn't want to get into trouble.