PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Port St. Lucie police arrested a 28-year-old Greenacres man on multiple felony charges, after he battered members of his family and then fled.
Police say they responded to a home on SW Baltic Street on Tuesday afternoon, for a domestic violence complaint alleging Francisco Custodio broke down the front door to the home, battered an adult family member and struck a child in the head with a barstool.
WATCH: Neighbor tells WPTV he heard attack and tried to distract suspect
Police said the pursuit started on SW Baltic Street, after neighbor Alberto Flerine saw Custodio force his way into the home.
"As he walked in, he started attacking the teen,” Flerine told WPTV’s Tyler Hatfield.
Flerine said he heard the attack and took action.
“I heard the mom scream, ‘Help,' and that's when I just went," he said.
Flerine said he tried to distract Custodio. Eventually, Flerine said he managed to hold Custodio down for about seven minutes.
He said it left him with a fractured thumb.
"It is what it is, I saved them,” said Flerine. “That's all that matters.”
While police were arriving, Custodio attempted to flee in a white 4-door Toyota, nearly hitting Flerine.
“He like, he backed up, tried to hit me right in front of the cop,” said Flerine. “Then I ran right by the cop car. He just sped off."
Custodio then accelerated toward an officer's patrol SUV, but the officer was able to avoid a collision.
Officers pursued Custodio as he eventually crashed into a fence in the 100 block of SW Gettysburg Drive, then fled on foot for roughly two blocks.
Officers used Tasers on Custodio and took him into custody.
“Obviously not a professional race car driver,” said Port St. Lucie Police Chief Leo Niemzcyk.
During the chase, Custodio hit two mailboxes. One of those was John Rankin’s.
“We just got [it] about a year ago,” said Rankin. “My wife loved this mailbox.”
Now Rankin said he’s cleaning up, but is thankful it was just his mailbox.
"Usually at this time, my wife usually goes out and checks for mail,“ said Rankin. “Thank God she wasn't out there.”
According to police, earlier in the day Custodio had texted a family member who lived at the home, stating he was going to kill them.
Chief Niemczyk said Flerine was in the right place at the right time.
“He did a fantastic job and we are appreciative and grateful for that,” said Niemczyk.
Flerine said he is rarely home, but he’s thankful he was that night.
“If I wasn't there, things would have been bad,” said Flerine. “I look at it as, God gave a sign you need to attack.”
Port St. Lucie police say Custodio is facing the following charges:
- Intimidation – Written Threats to Kill or Injure (domestic)
- Burglary with an Assault or Battery
- Burglary with an Assault or Battery (domestic)
- Aggravated Battery
- 2 counts of Aggravated Assault
- Simple Battery (domestic)
- Criminal Mischief $1,000 or more
- 2 counts of Hit and Run Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Property Damage
- Reckless Driving
- Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding
- Resisting an Officer without Violence
He is currently being held at the St. Lucie County Jail with no bond.
