CRASH LED TO DEPUTY’S KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY

BOYNTON Lake Worth BEACH man is being — A held in lieu of more than

$600,000 bail at the Palm Beach County Jail after his arrest for allegedly leading law enforcement on a chase in November that left a sher- iff’s deputy with a serious knee injury.

As Keisha Nicolas, 27, attempted to elude Palm Beach County deputies, he crashed into a residential community security gate, causing it to fall on the dep- uty, according to a PBSO arrest report.

Deputy Andy Gonzalez sustained a laceration and other injuries to his leg that forced him to undergo knee replacement surgery, the report said. Gonzalez is scheduled to return to active duty this week after being out for about eight months, PBSO spokeswoman Teri Barbera said. Nicolas is facing charges of aggravated battery on an officer, aggravated assault on an officer, possession of a weapon by a felon, fleeing police with injury or dam- age, vehicle theft and possession of marijuana over 20 grams. The incident took place Nov. 22 and began after deputies pursued a stolen 2016 Mercedes-Benz allegedly driven by Nicolas.

The Mercedes entered a residential apartment complex on the 4700 block of Via Bari, off Hypoluxo Road west of Military Trail in suburban Boynton Beach. It then exited the community by crashing into a security gate at a high rate of speed and injuring the deputy, the report said.

PBSO discontinued the pursuit but learned the Mercedes crashed into a light pole at Lawrence Road and Miner Road in Boynton Beach and burst into flames.