Rebecca Watkins Of West Boca Raton Arrested, Again.
Speeding Over 120 Mph On Glades Road. Passengers Injured After She Fled From Cops, Crashing Into Tree.
BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2023) — Rebecca Watkins jailed on several felony charges after running from a deputy who puller her over for speeding over 120 MPH in West Boca Raton.
120 MPH. That is what Deputy Pointu’s radar and laser speed detection equipment alerted on as a black Audi SUV flew past the patrol car on Glades Road just east of Cain Boulevard. The PBSO deputy then pulled the driver of the black Audi SUV over just after midnight, on Wednesday, December 20th, 2023. The deputy noted the presence of female driver and a female passenger in the front passenger sear of the black Audi SUV.
The driver, Rebecca Ann Watkins, of the 19000 block of 118 Trail in unincorporated Boca Raton, pulled over and gave the deputy her license before becoming argumentative and uncooperative. Watkins, who was chewing gum, refused to exit the vehicle and reportedly told the deputy she would not exit the vehicle without a warrant. Watkins told the deputy she was going to drive away, instead. To spite the deputy’s warnings, Watkins sped off at a high rate of speed, with the deputy still holding her driver’s license. Watkins didn’t get far, though. The deputy found Watkins’ vehicle crashed near Old Pumphouse Road and Cain Boulevard. The black Audi SUV ran over a traffic control signal, a decorative wall, and a tree. Outside of the vehicle stood the passenger, Emma Woodward, who was complaining of a knee injury. The deputy adds that all airbags were deployed. Watkins was not at the scene.
Watkins was said to have fled on foot. PBSO quickly created a perimeter and searched for Watkins with K9 units to no avail. Woodward was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Watkins was arrested 3 days later on Saturday, December 23rd, 2023 and jailed for only 6 hours before being released on a $8,000 bond.
Watkins is facing the following charges:
- 316.1935(4a) Aggravated Flee And Eluding
- 316.027(2a) Leaving Scene of a Crash With Injuries
- 316.192(3a1) Reckless Driving With Injuries
Watkins was also cited for unlawful speed for driving 120 MPH in a 40 MPH zone.
This is not the first time Watkins has been arrested for using her vehicle in such a dangerous manner, either. In 2020, Watkins was charged with aggravated battery after she used a black Nissan Rogue to repeatedly ram a neighbor’s BMW before speeding off, waiving her middle finger. Unfortunately, the PBC State Attorney’s Office later dropped the felony charges in exchange for misdemeanor charges. Those chargers were also later dropped as part of a pre-trial diversion program.
From the original police report:
I was conducting speed enforcement in the Westbound lanes of Glades Road, just East of Cain Boulevard, in unincorporated Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, Florida. I observed a single vehicle coming westbound from US Hwy 441 at an estimated speed of 120 MPHJ obtained a clear Doppler tone from my PBSO issued handheld LASER LiDAR and an indicated speed of 120 MPH. I illuminated my emergency lights and pulled behind the vehicle that was a black Audi SUV beating Florida tag 33DAQH. The vehicle made a right turn northbound on Cain Boulevard and stopped in the middle of the roadway approximately200 feet North of Glades Road.
I approached the vehicle and observed it was occupied by two females. The driver was identified by her Florida driver license as Rebecca Ann Watkins. Watkins was also the registered owner of the Audi. The front seat passenger would later be identified by her Florida driver license as Emma Woodward. Watkins had a slurred speech and appeared to chew a gum in her mouth. I did not notice any obvious odor coming from her person, but at the time my smell was impaired by a cold. Watkins appeared argumentative. As her behavior was giving me some suspicions of impairment, I asked her if she had anything to drink. She vehemently denied stating she was not drinking. She took exception for me to ask her that question and even questioned its legality. I waited for my backup to arrive and i asked her to exit her vehicle as I wanted to conduct Standardized field Sobriety Tasks to dispel my concerns of impairment. She refused to exit, saying that I need a warrant for it. I try to reason with her, explaining that it was a lawful order. She continued to argue, eventually she closed her window and threatened to drive away. I warned her that if she left, she would he committing a felony. Watkins drove away anyway at high rate of speed while I still was in possession of her driver license and the traffic stop was not over.
I informed my dispatch that the vehicle fled away from me and I started to go northbound on Cain Boulevard. I found the Audi at the intersection of Cain Boulevard and Old Pumphouse Road. The vehicle was resting inside the bushes on the north west corner of the intersection, had apparently run over a traffic control signal, hit a decorative stone wall and finished its course against a tree. All the airbags were deployed and Woodward was standing next to the car, complaining of knee injury. Watkins had fled on foot. A perimeter was set and K9 units were dispatched, but we were unable to locate Watkins. Woodward told me that she observed Watkins drinking two alcoholic beverage at dinner tonight. Woodward was transported by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue 54 to West Boca Medical Emergency Room (run PBC 23150447).
I have probable cause that Rebecca Ann Watkins did operate a vehicle, having knowledge that she had been ordered to stop such vehicle by a duly authorized law enforcement officer, and having stopped in knowing compliance with such order, did willfully flee in an attempt to elude the officer, and as a result of such
fleeing or eluding, did cause injury to the person or property of Emma Woodward, contrary to Florida Statute 316.1935(4)(a).
I have probable cause that Rebecca Ann Watkins did drive a motor vehicle involved in a crash that occur on public or private property which resulted in injury other than serious bodily injury to Emma Woodward or any person and Rebecca Ann Watkins did willfully fail to immediately stop the vehicle at the
scene of the crash or as close thereto as possible, or did willfully fail to remain at the scene of the crash until he or she fulfilled the requirements of Florida Statute 316.062, contrary to Florida Statute 316.027(2)(a).
I have probable cause that Rebecca Ann Watkins did drive a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property, and by reason of such operation did cause damage to the property or person of Emma Woodward, PBC EOC and Boca Isles North, contrary to Florida Statute 316.1920) and (3)(a),(b),(c)1.
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