Man accused of leading police on chase after carjacking

Freddie Peacock, 36, arrested on multiple charges

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville police on Monday arrested a 36-year-old man accused leading of officers on a chase after a carjacking at a Wawa convenience store.

Early Monday morning, Molly Reeder, Kelton Earl and a friend went to the Wawa on Old Middleburg Road. Earl was trying to put air in the tires before he and the friend went inside the store.

Reeder stayed behind. That's when, according to an arrest report, Freddie Peacock got into the vehicle, said, "Keep quiet, keep quiet" and demanded money.  She said she didn't have any.

"Never would have expected it," Reeder told News4Jax. "Terrifying. That's the main word -- terrifying. My heart stopped. There honestly are no words."

Police said the woman jumped out and Peacock drove off. Reeder said the car rolled over half of her body while trying to get away. She said she has swollen legs and is in a lot of pain.

"Haven't worked, can't sleep," Reeder said. "It's living hell right now."

When Earl came outside, his car was gone. 

"I didn't believe them when I walked out of the store. I thought they were joking or they parked the car around the corner," Earl said. 

Police said they later spotted the stolen car and the driver led them on a chase that eventually ended on Pepper Circle East -- about 4 miles east of the Wawa. That's where police said the driver crashed into several other vehicles, jumped out and ran away.

The arrest report shows a K-9 officer later found Peacock hiding behind a fence. Police said Peacock was bitten by the K-9 during the arrest, and they found a gun. 

As of Friday, Peacock remained in the Duval County jail on multiple charges, including carjacking with a firearm or deadly weapon, possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon and aggravated battery, according to online jail records.

"What if I had stayed in the car?" Reeder said. "That's all that I can think of -- what if I didn't get out of the car?"

Crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson said even if you're going to a store for less than five minutes, don't let your guard down. 

"When you get out of your car, lock the doors, don't leave the keys inside, don't leave your purse inside on the seat unlocked," Jefferson said. "There have been many thefts that way car thefts, as well as purse thefts."

Earl said his car was so damaged, he's going to have to find a new one.


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