Ex-Jimmy John’s Employee Arrested Following Trespassing Incident, Assault on Officers and High-Speed Foot Chase

July 7, 2023 • By Ryan Yousefi

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[caption id="attachment_47317" align="aligncenter" width="2000"] Reynaldo Bethel Thomas {BSO}[/caption]

By Ryan Yousefi

A former Jimmy John's employee was arrested after trespassing on the premises, leading police on a foot chase, and physically assaulting law enforcement officers as they attempted to apprehend him.

On June 29, Coral Springs Police responded to a complaint of a former employee trespassing and harassing employees and customers at the Jimmy John’s located at 2346 North University Drive.

Upon arrival, CSPD encountered Reynaldo Bethel Thomas, 28, who had been barred from the establishment an hour earlier by the same officers for similar actions.

According to the arrest report, the officers who had previously responded to the location returned amid reports Thomas was back and, upon arrival, ordered him to place his hands behind his back.

Records show Thomas refused to cooperate, became violent, and, during a struggle, punched an officer in the face with a closed fist before fleeing the scene across University Drive traffic.

Officers noted in the report that they attempted to use a Taser to subdue Thomas, but he escaped, running across Royal Palm Boulevard.

After a short pursuit, CSPD officers caught up to Thomas and tackled him near a FedEx store across the street.

The report shows that Thomas again resisted arrest, violently kicking the officers who struggled to control him.

Officers were finally able to place Thomas in handcuffs. Yet, as he was escorted to a police vehicle, he again began tensing his body and attempting to pull away from the officer.

To regain control, an officer reported he pushed Thomas into the rear driver's side door of the police vehicle, resulting in significant damage estimated at over $1,000.

Thomas was arrested and transported to the Broward County Main Jail.

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Author Profile

Ryan Yousefi

Ryan Yousefi has lived in Coral Springs for over 30 years. He has worked as a writer for multiple outlets over the years, including the Miami New Times where he has covered sports and culture since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Business Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.