A Massachusetts man found himself behind bars Tuesday morning after a reckless drive in a U-Haul truck that allegedly involved speeding through a school zone and making an obscene gesture at law enforcement.
The incident began around 7:09 a.m. on Jan. 6, when the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a U-Haul box truck driving recklessly while heading south on U.S. 1 near Mile Marker 95 in the Florida Keys.
Deputies located the vehicle a short time later near Mile Marker 90. According to reports, the driver—identified as 29-year-old Idibek Jalilov of Boston—drove past deputies stationed in an active school zone and displayed his middle finger.
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Authorities say Jalilov continued driving erratically, speeding, following other vehicles too closely, and impeding the flow of traffic. When deputies activated their lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop, Jalilov reportedly refused to pull over.
The pursuit continued south for approximately five miles before Jalilov finally stopped the truck near Mile Marker 85. He was taken into custody without incident, and no injuries were reported.
Jalilov has been charged with fleeing and eluding. The Florida Highway Patrol assisted the Sheriff’s Office during the incident.
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