David G. Solfest, Convicted sex offender, arrested after multiple accidents in Sebastian

SEBASTIAN — A convicted sex offender struck two vehicles, hospitalized a man and a pregnant woman and fought with a K9 before he was taken into custody by police Saturday, according to his affidavit.

David G. Solfest, 27, has been living in the 400 block of Columbus Street, Sebastian, for the last three months without registering as a sex offender. He also is wanted in Wisconsin for failing to register.

The first crash happened about 1 a.m. Saturday when Solfest was driving a white Buick north in the 1100 block of Barber Street, police said. Solfest struck the rear of a Chevrolet Blazer, causing it to roll over several times, according to the affidavit.

The Blazer driver, Shawn Burkhart, and the passenger, Andrea Norman, were flown to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne. Norman is 15 weeks pregnant, the affidavit states.

Solfest continued driving on Barber and struck a Hyundai parked in the 1000 block, police said. Solfest stepped out of the Buick and fled on foot, according to the affidavit.

A police officer and his K9 apprehended Solfest after a brief struggle, during which time he punched the dog, the affidavit states. Solfest was treated at Sebastian River Medical Center for an ankle injury from one of the crashes and a dog bite.

Solfest was charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing serious bodily injury, driving while license suspended, resisting with violence, offense against a police dog, fugitive from justice, and failing to register as a sex offender.

He was being held at the Indian River County Jail without bail.