A 23-year-old man arrested after a high-speed motorcycle chase in Ponte Vedra Beach is now being held for federal immigration authorities, according to records from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Erlan Vasquez Banegas, 23, a Honduran national, remains in the St. Johns County Jail under an immigration detainer issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which alleges he is removable under U.S. law. The detainer requests that local officials hold him for up to 48 hours beyond his release so federal agents can take custody.
The arrest stems from a March 10 pursuit initiated by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office along State Road A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Deputies reported spotting a green 2007 Kawasaki motorcycle traveling southbound without a license plate near Corona Road. The rider, who was not wearing a helmet, allegedly ignored signals to stop and sped away, prompting a chase along the busy stretch.
According to court documents, the pursuit escalated when Barnegas made a U-turn into oncoming traffic near ATP Tour Boulevard and briefly drove off-road behind a gas station.
The chase ended in the parking lot of The Fresh Market, where deputies took Vasquez into custody without further incident.
Authorities say he did not have a valid driver’s license in any state and had multiple prior citations in St. Johns County for driving without one. The motorcycle was also unregistered.
Vasquez faces charges including fleeing and eluding law enforcement, driving without a valid license, and operating an unregistered vehicle. His criminal case remains pending.
Federal immigration documents indicate DHS determined probable cause for removability based on biometric identification and database checks, as well as statements attributed to the defendant.
