A 16-year-old girl reported missing in Texas was safely recovered in Florida after a high-speed police chase on Saturday, March 15, 2025, in St. Johns County, a suburb of Jacksonville.
Authorities say the chase unfolded after deputies identified a suspicious vehicle parked at Dublin Pavilion, a shopping center in the area, believed to be connected to the missing teen’s case.
Suspect Identified as 19-Year-Old Jesus Esteban Arellano
The car was being driven by Jesus Esteban Arellano, a 19-year-old already wanted in Texas on five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. As deputies approached the vehicle, Arellano sped off, triggering a high-speed pursuit.
During the chase, police executed a PIT maneuver — a tactic used to force a fleeing car to spin out — which successfully stopped the vehicle without injury to anyone involved.
Teen Girl Found Safe, Suspect Faces Additional Charges
Inside the vehicle, police found the 16-year-old girl who had been reported as a runaway in Texas. Her name has not been released due to her age.
Bodycam footage shows an officer informing the girl, “You’re listed as a missing person, like I told you before, for running away and stuff like that.”
The suspect, Arellano, now faces additional charges in Florida
