Man on probation arrested after hitting truck at gas station and fleeing, leaving children behind

Staff report

ARCHER, Fla. – Skyler Matthew Riker, 33, was arrested yesterday after allegedly backing into a truck at a gas station, leaving the scene of the crash, fleeing from a deputy at a high rate of speed, and leaving his children behind at the gas station.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy reported that he was at the Circle K at 12771 SW SR 45 in Archer for an unrelated call when he saw a Chevrolet Tahoe back up into a truck at a gas pump. The deputy reported that the Tahoe immediately pulled forward and drove southbound on SR 45. The driver of the truck began yelling that the guy who hit his truck was leaving, and the deputy began to pursue the Tahoe with lights and sirens activated.

The deputy reported that the Tahoe fled at over 50 mph in a 35 mph speed zone for about a mile before pulling onto SW 134th Avenue, where Riker was detained. Riker reportedly told the deputy that his children, 10 and 7 years old, were still at the gas station, and the deputy drove back to the gas station to find the children “visibly upset.” A relative was called and came to pick them up.

Post Miranda, Riker reportedly said he was backing up and hit the truck; he said that when he put his car into Drive, the gas pedal got stuck. He said he drove at a high rate of speed because the gas pedal was stuck and that he hadn’t forgotten his children but was trying not to hit anyone while the gas pedal was stuck.

Riker has been charged with fleeing with lights and sirens active, child neglect without great bodily harm, and leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage. He is currently on probation out of Polk County for charges including burglary, grand theft, and drug possession; sentencing documents indicate that he is a habitual felony offender. Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered him held on $15,000 bail.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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