OKEECHOBEE — A 17-year-old from Okeechobee was arrested last Thursday after reportedly hitting a 14-year-old boy with his vehicle.

Johnny Cruce, of Southeast 95th Trail, was arrested on June 22 by Okeechobee County Sherrif’s Office and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:40 p.m. on Thursday, June 22, in the 6500 block of Southeast 87th Trail.

According to the arrest report, the victim’s mother had phoned the incident in while she herself was en route from Port St. Lucie. She stated that her son had ran up to their doorbell camera and stated that he had been hit by a car. He was unable to make a call himself because he did not have a phone and there was no house phone.

Deputies were dispatched to the home at the 8800 block of Southeast 67th Drive where he attempted to make contact with the victim but Okeechobee County Fire and Rescue advised that the boy was being transported to Raulerson Hospital for treatment. They advised his injuries were minor. One of the deputies then responded to the hospital to interview the victim.

At the hospital the victim stated that Cruce got out of the vehicle and attempted to approach him in an aggressive manner. He alledges that words were exchanged and that Cruce then shoved him and that Cruce’s female passenger got out and told Cruce to leave the victim alone. The victim says that the two then returned to their vehicle and as he was walking in front of the vehicle he heard tires screech and was then struck by the vehicle. He said he  pushed himselff off the hood/windshield area and fell into a ditch.

At the scene a witness, another juvenile and friend of the victim, explained to the remaining deputy that his friend had been hit by a vehicle and described the vehicle as being a grey 2018 Dodge Charger with a broken bumper. He also explained the exact location that the hit and run took place, the 6500 block of Southeast 87th Trail. The witness identified the driver as 17-year-old Johnny Cruce and said that there was a pregnant female passenger in the car also. The witness alleged that Cruce intentionally tried to run them over with his vehicle but that he was able to avoid contact. The witness said that Cruce lived up the road and could probably be found there.

The deputy searched the area and located a vehicle fitting the description at a home on the 9100 block of Southeast 62nd Drive where he made contact with a 21-year-old female, who stated she had been in the vehicle and Cruce was driving when the incident took place. The witness confirmed the location of the incident and said that Cruce had hit the victim at low speed. She said that Cruce then left the scene and drove to her home to drop the vehicle off because it belonged to her boyfriend. The witness stated that she and her boyfriend then told Cruce to leave the property because he was being noisy and Cruce left on foot.

Cruce was located at his home on Southeast 95th Trail, arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He was later turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

The victim was turned over to his mother without incident and suffered no major injuries.