Jimmy Joseph, Boynton Beach man, charged with attempted murder of an officer after wild car chase

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. -- A Boynton Beach man was arrested Tuesday after officers said he came within two feet of hitting a motorcycle officer during a wild police chase into oncoming traffic.

While checking speeds in the 3500 block of South Seacrest Boulevard, Boynton Beach police officers said they spotted a black Ford Taurus moving 70 mph on the wrong side of the highway, maneuvering its way in and out of traffic.

The driver, later identified by police as Jimmy Joseph, was speeding through a two-lane school zone with many blind driveways and connecting roads, officers said.

"School buses full of children were present and at this time of day traffic is heavy," an officer wrote in Joseph's arrest report.

Officers then pursued Joseph, and the chase led onto SE 27th Avenue, SE 1st Place and back onto Seacrest Boulevard.

In his attempt to elude officers, police said Joseph intentionally crossed over on the wrong side of the road and drove directly at a motorcycle officer, coming within two feet of hitting him. His vehicle instead struck another car and rolled over.

When officers approached the vehicle, Joseph was on the passenger side with his legs trapped under the dashboard.

While being assisted by officers, Joseph said, "I ain't gonna' lie, I have a little bit of weed and crack in the car. I'm just being honest with ya," according to the arrest report.

Paramedics used the Jaws of Life to pry open the vehicle door. As soon as Joseph was extracted, he was handcuffed and taken to Delray Medical Center.

According to an arrest report, investigators found marijuana in a cigar bag on the roof of the upside down vehicle where Joseph was lying after the crash.

Detectives also located crack cocaine in a cardboard package stuck between the dash and the caved-in windshield.

Joseph was charged with the attempted murder of an officer, possession of cocaine, driving with a revoked license and reckless driving.