‘I’m young, rich and can do what I want’: What Florida TikTok star, 18, said when he was arrested after ‘DELIBERATELY provoking trooper into chase by wheel-spinning off from stop sign’
- Florida TikTok star Damaury Mikula, 18, was arrested on Friday after he allegedly started a 100-mile-per-hour high speed chase with Pasco County Police
- Police footage captured Mikula running a red light as well as doing a burnout and smoking his tires with his Dodge Challenger
- They later caught and arrested Mikula at his home who bragged about his $400,000-450,000 a year salary as they read his Miranda rights
- He was booked into Pasco County Jail and was charged with eluding police with disregard of safety to persons or property, reckless driving and racing on a highway
- He was released on bond on Saturday
A Florida TikTok star deliberately sparked a 100mph police chase – then told cops who arrested him his wealth and youth made him immune from the law, it is claimed.
Damaury Mikula, 18, of Pasco, Florida, has more than four million followers on TikTok and has frequently posted content featuring his Dodge Challenger, a vehicle that can go up to 141mph with a top price of around $60,000.
The TikTok star, who is said to make $400,000 to $450,000 per year, was recorded on Friday being chased in that car by Pasco County Police at the intersection of State Route 54 at Sunlake Boulevard in Florida.
That chase, which happened at around 10.30am, is said to have started after Mikula deliberately ‘burned out’ the car while at a stop sign next to a cop to provoke a pursuit.
He was later arrested in front of his home, and did not post the clip of himself being pursued on TikTok – but troopers have since shared their own dashcam footage.
Florida Tik Tok star Damaury Mikula, 18, was arrested on Friday after he led Pasco County Police on a 100-mile-per-hour high speed chase
Mikula’s Dodge Challenger was towed after he ran a red light in front of a police as well as doing a burnout and smoking his tires next to his patrol car
Mikula had initially started the chase after he ran a red light, as well as doing a burnout move which saw his tires erupt in smoke while parked just in front of a patrol car.
After he was captured running the light, Mikula did not attempt to pull over as police attempted to signal him.
He continued to accelerate as police continued their pursuit and pulled over into a nearby residential neighborhood.
The police identified the runaway driver as Mikula after one of the troopers tagged him.
Mikula was captured starting the high speed chase between the intersection of State Route 54 at Sunlake Boulevard
Mikula had boasted about his high salary and claimed the chase was ‘fun’ as police read him his Miranda rights
They then showed up to Mikula’s home to arrest him, as he continued to brag about the large sum of money he made while police read him his Miranda rights.
‘Mr. Mikula advised his state of mind was that he is young, makes a lot of money, and has a fast car and he can do whatever he wants,’ Trooper W. Kelly of the Florida Highway Patrol told WFLA.
‘Mr. Mikula admitted that was a foolish way of thinking and not a good way to live.
‘Mr. Mikula advised he wanted to do something fun for three seconds, and it cost him.’
Mikula was booked into Pasco County Jail without incident and was charged with eluding police with disregard of safety to persons or property, reckless driving and racing on highway
Mikula also added that he was planning on getting onto the expressway to further evade police, but then realized that it could get him into more trouble.
The Florida Highway Patrol also said that Mikula told police that his car was parked in the garage and gave them permission to tow it.
He was booked into Pasco County Jail without incident and was charged with eluding police with disregard of safety to persons or property, reckless driving and racing on a highway. Mikula was released on bond on Saturday.