Man hits Orlando police car, drives wrong way, hits light pole in reckless flee from police: affidavit

Officer involved shooting, convicted felon arrested, police say

FOX 35's Morgan Parrish is in Downtown Orlando after a high-speed chase turned into an officer involved shooting Sunday night. A suspect is in custody and has an extensive criminal history.

ORLANDO, Fla. - A convicted felon sped away from police in downtown Orlando late Sunday night, driving recklessly out of a parking lot, through the city's narrow streets, hitting a vehicle, and then driving towards an officer, who fired at the driver, police said.

Cliff Presley Garcia Francois, 29, ultimately crashed near Magnolia Avenue and Livingston Street, and was taken into custody. He was booked into jail under suspicion of nine charges.

He was not struck by the officer's shot. That officer has been placed on paid-administrative leave, which is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings.

Police said the incident happened shortly before 11 p.m. when Orlando Police Department's Parramore Bikes Unit responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the 55 West parking garage. That vehicle, occupied by Francois, was parked between two parking spots.

"Upon sight of law enforcement, the subject reversed quickly from where he was parked, almost striking officers with the vehicle. After reversing, I made eye contact with the driver from who I was approximately 10 feet away. At that time, I verbally announced myself as an Orlando Police officer and gave the subject the command to stop. The subject then ignored my verbal command and fled the scene accelerating the vehicle which gained speed as he fled," the officer wrote in the arrest affidavit.

Police said several Halloween events were happening downtown and that a lot of people were downtown.

According to the report, Francois exited the parking garage on Pine Street while driving the wrong-way and struck an officer's patrol vehicle. He then crashed into a light pole on N. Magnolia Avenue and bailed out of the vehicle, police said.

An officer challenged Francois at gunpoint, at which point he surrendered, police said.

Cliff Presley Garcia Francois, 29 (Credit: Orlando Police Department )

Police said Francois' driving privileges are currently suspended.

He was booked into jail on several counts of aggravated fleeing/eluding, hit and run, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, aggravated assault, reckless driving, resisting an officer, and driving with a suspended license, police said.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) will conduct an independent investigation into the shooting, followed by a review by the State Attorney’s Office. Orlando police will also perform an internal investigation.

Police said Francois has been arrested 11 times previously. According to court records, he was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2016 for armed burglary. He was released in 2021.

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