WINTER HAVEN — A 49-year-old Winter Haven man has been arrested after police say he used his pickup truck to chase a 17-year-old riding an electric bicycle through a neighborhood, at one point driving onto a sidewalk and allegedly pointing what appeared to be a firearm at the teen.
According to the Winter Haven Police Department, the incident occurred around 7:18 p.m. on Sunday, August 2, in the area of Domizio Drive, Giorgio Drive, and Taverna Loop.
Investigators say the 17-year-old victim and a 12-year-old friend were riding their bicycles through the neighborhood when they stopped near the entrance at Giorgio Drive and Taverna Loop. A blue Dodge Ram pickup, driven by Conceicao Olisnei Nascimento, 49, pulled alongside them, and the driver allegedly began yelling through the open window before getting out of the truck in an aggressive manner.
Fearing for his safety, the teen rode away on his electric bicycle toward his home. Police say as he traveled through the intersection, he heard the truck rapidly accelerate behind him.
According to the victim, he rode onto the sidewalk in an attempt to avoid the truck, but the driver allegedly followed him onto the sidewalk. The teen told investigators the truck came extremely close to him, and when he looked toward the driver’s window, it appeared the driver was pointing a firearm in his direction.
The victim continued trying to escape, making a U-turn through the grass while the truck allegedly continued pursuing him aggressively.
The chase ended when the teen spotted a Lakeland Police vehicle with someone standing nearby and yelled for help. As the victim spoke with the individual, Nascimento reportedly pulled his truck alongside them, and the confrontation de-escalated. The teen was then able to leave and return home, where Winter Haven Police were contacted.
During the investigation, officers learned the 12-year-old had taken a photo of the truck’s license plate, allowing investigators to identify the driver.
Nascimento was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail on one count of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a third-degree felony.
No injuries were reported during the incident. The investigation remains ongoing.