No bail for suspect accused of carjack, slamming cop’s car
West Palm-area man led police on chase into Martin.
WEST PALM BEACH — A judge Friday denied bail for the man accused of slamming into a deputy’s vehicle last week following a 40-mile chase from Greenacres into southern Martin County.
Juan Carlos Carmenate declined to appear at the bond hearing before Judge Edward Garrison at the Palm Beach County Jail.
Carmenate, 35, of suburban West Palm Beach, faces charges in both Palm Beach and Martin counties after authorities say he stole a vehicle at a Greenacres convenience store June 15, fled into Martin County and fired upon deputies before crashing and injuring one of them.
He was released from St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach and moved to the jail late Wednesday.
Carmenate crashed into a parked, unmarked Martin County sheriff ’s vehicle near Pratt Whitney and Bridge roads west of Hobe Sound after deputies used tire-deflation sticks to stop the stolen car, authorities said.
Martin County Detective Jason Fleming was injured in the crash and, along with Carmenate, was taken to St. Mary’s. Fleming was treated and released within hours of the crash.
Carmenate carjacked a man at Ed’s Food & Deli at Lake Worth Road and Swain Boulevard after first trying to steal the man’s wallet, police said. He fled north up Florida’s Turnpike, the Beeline Highway and Pratt Whitney Road.
As he tried to escape, Carmenate fired shots at Martin County deputies, hitting one of their cars before being surrounded and taken into custody, authorities said. No one was injured by the gunfire.