Man Charged After Jumping Fences and Entering J.P. Taravella High School During Police Pursuit

by Ryan Yousefi June 25, 2026

by Ryan Yousefi June 25, 2026 2 minutes read

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Orlando David Smith {BSO}

A man was arrested after allegedly ignoring police commands, jumping multiple fences, and entering J.P. Taravella High School grounds during a police pursuit.

According to a Coral Springs Police arrest report, the incident took place on June 21 after an officer spotted Orlando David Smith, 23, of Coral Springs, committing a pedestrian violation by walking against the crosswalk signal near the intersection of Coral Springs Drive and West Atlantic Boulevard.

When the officer attempted to stop Smith, police said he ignored instructions and continued walking away. According to the report, Smith crossed in front of moving traffic, forcing vehicles to brake to avoid striking him, then fled on foot when officers attempted to make contact.

Police said Smith eventually crossed Riverside Drive and entered the grounds of J.P. Taravella High School by jumping over a locked fence into the west parking lot. Despite multiple additional officers responding, Smith allegedly continued deeper onto campus, ignoring repeated commands to stop.

Authorities said Smith then climbed another fence leading to the school’s track and football field, walked across the softball fields, and jumped a fence along the southern edge of the campus. Officers continued pursuing him toward a canal behind the school and into the Oakwood Park neighborhood, where they took him into custody after a brief foot chase.

Investigators said the school’s resource officer confirmed the Broward County School Board wanted to pursue trespassing charges.

The report notes that while the incident occurred around noon, the fact that it was a Sunday helped lower tensions, as there were fewer students and faculty on campus.

Smith was arrested and transported to Broward Health Coral Springs for medical clearance before being booked into the Broward County Jail.

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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.