Executive Summary
- Suspect Richard Younger is accused of carjacking a vehicle with a one-year-old child inside.
- A brief police pursuit ended when the suspect crashed into another vehicle, causing a fire.
- Deputy Almin Residovic rescued the infant and an unconscious driver from the burning wreck.
- Younger faces charges including carjacking, aggravated fleeing, and false imprisonment.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deputy rescued a one-year-old child and an unconscious woman from a burning wreckage on Sunday following a carjacking and subsequent police pursuit, according to law enforcement officials.
The incident began near 103rd Street where investigators allege that 34-year-old Richard Younger forcibly removed a woman from her vehicle and fled the scene, leaving her one-year-old child trapped inside the stolen car. Deputies report that they quickly located the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Authorities state that Younger refused to yield, initiating a brief pursuit that concluded when the suspect collided with a second vehicle.
Body camera footage released by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office captured the chaotic aftermath, showing the vehicles engulfed in flames. Deputy Almin Residovic is seen racing toward the crash site, where he pulled an unconscious woman from the second vehicle to safety. He then returned to the stolen vehicle to rescue the one-year-old child, who was reportedly unharmed. Officials noted that a 14-year-old passenger was also involved in the incident but managed to escape the wreckage before deputies arrived.
Following the crash, law enforcement established probable cause to arrest Younger. He faces multiple charges, including carjacking, leaving the scene of a crash without rendering aid, aggravated fleeing from law enforcement resulting in a crash, and false imprisonment of a child under 13 years old. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Investigative Outlook
The swift escalation from a carjacking to a multi-vehicle casualty event underscores the extreme risks associated with police pursuits involving hostages. As the investigation continues, the focus will likely shift to the evidentiary value of the body camera footage in substantiating the aggravated fleeing and child endangerment charges. The successful rescue by Deputy Residovic prevented a potential tragedy, yet the incident highlights the volatility law enforcement faces when intercepting suspects who demonstrate a disregard for public safety.
