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Olympian Sha’Carri Richardson frantically begged a Florida cop not to haul her to jail after being stopped for speeding — insisting a busted tire on her luxury car caused her to unintentionally hit 104 mph, according to wild police bodycam footage.
The 2024 Summer Olympics gold medalist tore down the Winter Park roadway in her Aston Martin Thursday afternoon, weaving through lanes and flashing her lights before cutting off a cop who had to reach 110 mph just to pull her over, according to video obtained by Fox News Digital.
“I would wipe that smile off your face,” Sgt. Gerald McDaniels sternly told Richardson as he approached her passenger window, before telling her she was “being stopped for dangerous, excessive speed.”
The panicked 25-year-old proceeded to rattle off a list of excuses behind her breakneck pace, including that her rear tire was underinflated.
Richardson also claimed her phone had slipped, changing the settings on her British sports car and causing her to speed — an explanation the officer wasn’t having.
“You’re driving at 104 miles an hour in a 65-mile-an-hour zone with subpar equipment, flashing people to get out of your lane, following too close, using every lane to pass everybody, cutting me off, passing a car on the inside shoulder with you hazard lights on,” McDaniels said, the footage shows.
“You’re going to jail for dangerous excessive speeding.”
The American sprinter claimed she “didn’t even know my car was speeding,” before the officer snapped back, “that’s why they give you a speedometer.”
Richardson then pleaded, “I really do not want to go to jail,” before admitting she was racing down the roadway but had “no intention” to break the law, according to the video.
“I am a law-abiding citizen, sir,” the previously arrested athlete said, just before breaking down into tears.
“Please sir. I really was not intentionally speeding. Sir, please. I’m begging you,” Richardson desperately cried out with her hands pressed together. “Don’t take me to jail. I will do everything. Please, sir. I promise you, I don’t want to go to jail, I’m right here.”
Richardson was booked into Orange County Jail and slapped with dangerous excessive speeding at 100 mph or more and cited for four civil traffic infractions.
She was arrested in July on domestic violence charges following an incident with her boyfriend, fellow US sprinter Christian Coleman, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Coleman was also cuffed Thursday during the same traffic stop and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer without violence, according to court records.
Fellow Team USA sprinter Twanisha Terry also received a ticket for stopping on a limited-access highway after she pulled up to the scene wanting to know what was going on with her friends.
Coleman posted $1,000 cash bond later that night, paying $500 for himself and Richardson.
English (US)