Arraignment date set for driver charged in vehicle dragging case

A Lake Placid man accused of dragging two men underneath his truck will be arraigned on numerous felony charges March 15.

Christopher Sullivan, 20, is charged with two counts of attempted vehicular homicide, three counts of attempted aggravated battery and one count of leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury.

On Feb 7, Sullivan allegedly tried to hit three juveniles several times with his truck after one of them reached into the window and grabbed a candy bar.

In retaliation, the teens threw bricks at Sullivan's truck as he drove away, according to police.

Sullivan reportedly returned a short time later with David Caudill, 31, for revenge. Caudill started fighting with another man, Larry Hendrix, 19.

The situation escalated when, according to witnesses, Sullivan hit both Hendrix and Caudill with his truck and dragged them 370 feet down East Royal Palm Avenue, police said.

Both men were taken to Lee Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries. They have since been treated for their injuries and discharged, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Over the course of the investigation, six juveniles were also arrested in connection with the incident. Five of them were charged with attempted felony murder for allegedly kicking Caudill and hitting him with a golf club and a brick after he was freed from the pickup truck.

The last suspect, Miguel Cardenas, 17, was apprehended Feb. 26 at a home in the Sun 'n Lakes area, according to Lake Placid Police Lt. James Fansler.

Deputies with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office went out to serve Cardenas with active warrants. He reportedly tried his best to resist.

"From what I understand, he tried to hide under the trailer," Fansler said Monday.

Cardenas refused deputies' orders to come out, so a K9 was sent under the trailer to bring him out, according to Fansler.

He is accused of hitting Caudill several times with a pipe, Fansler previously said.

The others charged with attempted felony murder were: Nathaniel Soto, 16; Alberto Arceo, 17; Edward Luis Noland, 16; and Shayna Michelle Souza, 15.

A 17-year-old was also charged with throwing deadly missiles at Sullivan's truck rather than fleeing the scene.

Since they are juveniles, the teenagers' court dates were not immediately available on Monday.

For law enforcement, the Feb. 26 arrest brings an end to a case that appears to have started over a Snickers bar.

"I think we're pretty much wrapped up with it," Fansler said.