FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The father of a 3-year-old boy who was found dead at his Hollywood home earlier this year was arrested Wednesday after crashing his car into a security gate, police said.
Nelson Osceola, 24, faces numerous charges, including driving under the influence, leaving the scene of a crash and fleeing and eluding an officer.
"Mr. Osceola is the father of a child who's deceased and has been struggling with the reality that his son is dead, so to say that he was intoxicated doesn't surprise me in the least," Osceola's attorney, Hillard Moldof, told Local 10 News.
According to Seminole police reports, Osceola drove through a security gate on the Seminole Tribe of Florida reservation about 2:30 a.m., breaking the arm off the gate.
Police found Osceola nearby but said he fled once the officer turned on his vehicle's emergency lights.
Police said Osceola was followed by numerous patrol vehicles, but refused to stop. They said he eventually got out of his car and jumped over a fence before being taken into custody.
Osceola was out on bond for a child neglect charge in the death of his son, Ahziya, when he was arrested this week.
Ahziya was found stuffed inside garbage bags and a box hidden in the laundry room of his Hollywood home in March. Osceola's wife, Analiz, is behind bars on charges of manslaughter and providing false information to law enforcement.
The Florida Department of Children and Families has investigated the family four times before the boy's death and, according to the medical examiner, Ahziya had past injuries that showed previous physical abuse.
Osceola's bond was set at more than $2,700 Thursday.
"I'm sure he'll be out and be sober and be fine," Moldof said. "In a week he'll get the message, but this was probably just a wake-up call for Nelson."
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