23 year old PSL man arrested for crashing his car into a gas station then fleeing the scene
Port St Lucie, Fla- On May 1, 2018, Port St. Lucie Police arrested 23 year old Melvin Eugene Venable (Port St. Lucie) for Driving Under the Influence, Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Property Damage, and Resisting an Officer after he crashed his car into a gas station then fled the scene.
On May 1, 2018 at around 12:50 am, Port St. Lucie Police went to 149 NW Bayshore Boulevard. It was reported that a car crashed into the front of the Speedway Convenience Store. Upon arrival police learned that a male subject drove his blue PT Cruiser through the parking lot, jumped the sidewalk curb, and ultimately crashing into the front glass of the store. Witnesses said that the driver, later identified as Venable, tried to put the car in reverse to back out of the building but was unable to remove the car. Venable then exited the car and fled on foot southbound away from the store.
A 34 year old male customer of the Speedway was transported from the store to the hospital and was treated for non-life threatening lacerations he sustained from flying glass caused by the crash.
Police continued the investigation. They located the suspect, Venable, in the 400 block of SW Carmelite Street. Police noted that Venable was sweating profusely, smelled of alcohol, and didn’t know where he was. Police arrested Venable and after a breath test discovered that his BAC was over twice the legal limit. Venable was then transported to the St. Lucie County Jail for booking.
