Two Men Arrested for Alleged Street Racing on U.S. 1 in Marathon, One with Child in Car

Two middle-aged men from Marathon were arrested Friday evening for allegedly street racing on U.S. 1, with one of them reportedly having a 5-year-old child in the vehicle. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Yunielkis Junior De Leon, 19, and Michael  Joseph Taute, 38, were charged with street racing on a public roadway. The man also faces additional charges of child neglect and was cited for not securing the child in a car seat.

The entire situation occurred around 7 p.m. near 89th Street, where authorities say a Nissan sedan and a Chevrolet sedan were racing northbound, reaching speeds of around 80 mph before deputies intervened and pulled them over. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the 5-year-old child was safely turned over to a family member’s care.

Both De Leon and Taute were transported to jail following their arrests, and their vehicles were towed from the scene. The people emphasize that such reckless behavior endangers not only those involved but also the community, highlighting the importance of road safety, especially with children in the car.