State Attorney arrests seven West Palm Beach police officers for roles in fatal Boynton chase
WEST PALM BEACH — Seven West Palm Beach police officers are facing criminal charges in connection to a high-speed vehicle pursuit that resulted in the deaths of a mother and her pregnant daughter in Boynton Beach in July 2024, the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office announced on June 5.
The vehicle that the officers were chasing crashed into a car on North Congress Avenue, killing Marcia Pochette, 57, and Jenice Woods, 27.
Following an investigation by the office's Public Corruption Unit, three officers — Austin B. Danielovich, Pierre F. Etienne, and Christopher C. Rekdahl — have been arrested on two counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving death, a first-degree felony, and one count of official misconduct, a third-degree felony.
An additional four officers — Michael E. Borgen, William L. Loayza, Brandan C. Stedfelt, and Darien J. Thomas — have been arrested on one count of official misconduct each.
Court records show Danielovich, Etienne and Rekdahl appeared for a hearing before Circuit Judge Sheri Collins. They were released from custody June 5 after the judge set bail for each at $125,000 bail. The other officers were released within a few hours after being booked at the Palm Beach County Jail, with each posting $5,000 bail.
According to an arrest report, Borgen, Etienne, Loayza, Rekdahl and Thomas were members of West Palm's Gang and Habitual Offender Suppression Team, also known as the GHOST unit.
Authorities said the officers chased the car from West Palm Beach to Boynton Beach on the night of July 30 that struck and killed Pochette and Woods.
Boynton Beach police investigators said the mother and daughter were traveling on North Congress near Meadows Boulevard shortly before 8 p.m. when a Kia Stinger driven by Neoni Copeland of Boynton Beach hit their Toyota Corolla. Pochette and Woods died at Delray Medical Center.
An investigation called into question the actions of the seven West Palm Beach officers that day.
“The police officers’ actions are a disturbing betrayal of the public trust,” State Attorney Alexcia Cox said in a prepared statement. “Law enforcement officers have a duty to the public they swore to uphold. No one is above the law, and this office will pursue justice wherever the facts and the law lead.”
The Fraternal Order of Police, the union that represents West Palm Beach officers, issued a prepared statement expressing sorrow for the family of Pochette and Woods and support for the officers facing charges.
"We recognize the profound pain this tragedy has caused and join the community in mourning this devastating loss," the FOP statement said.
“We also stand in support of our members who have been arrested in connection with this incident. These officers are entitled to the full protections of due process. We respectfully ask the public to allow the legal system to do its work fairly and without presumption.”
In a prepared statement, West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James said his city takes "even the appearance of injustice seriously and grieve with those affected by this incident.
"I remain committed to the safety of every resident, employee, and visitor in this city. There are no days off to ensure public safety and transparency. Public safety is priority number one.”
Chase took officers 15 miles from where vehicle was spotted
The June 5 arrest report indicates that Danielovich, Etienne and Rekdahl were driving both marked and unmarked patrol vehicles as they pursued Copeland across multiple law-enforcement jurisdictions.
Stedfelt was a passenger in the vehicle driven by Danielovich, Loayza was a passenger in Etienne's patrol vehicle and Thomas and Borgen were both passengers in Rekdahl's patrol vehicle.
Investigators say the situation began at about 7:40 p.m. on July 30 as GHOST unit officers were arresting a person in an armed robbery. During the arrest, Thomas reportedly informed another officer to be on the lookout for a Kia Stinger driven by Copeland.
Thomas and other members of his team wanted to interview Copeland for a matter unrelated to the armed robbery arrest, the report said. Shortly after Thomas' conversation with the other officer, GHOST officers radioed to report that the Kia was in the area of 45th Street and Australian Avenue. The officer who spoke with Thomas drove to that location, identified the Kia and activated his emergency lights.
The Kia reportedly fled south, ignoring the officer's attempt to stop the vehicle. The officer, identified in the arrest report only by last name, told investigators he did not pursue the vehicle as doing so would have violated department policy.
However, an unmarked SUV driven by Rekdahl followed the Kia, the arrest report said. Copeland reportedly traveled onto Interstate 95 from Okeechobee Boulevard and began driving south. A motorcycle officer told investigators he joined the pursuit, traveling as far as Forest Hill Boulevard before exiting I-95.
According to the arrest report, a review of cellphone data for the accused officers placed them in the area of Hypoluxo Road and Congress Avenue, about 15 miles south of where the case began and a short distance from the crash scene.
Investigators say the officers neither contacted Boynton Beach police nor remained at the crash scene. The officers were placed on leave following the incident.
Copeland was arrested on multiple charges, including two counts each of vehicular homicide and leaving the the scene of a crash involving death. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is awaiting trial.
High-speed chase helped persuade mayor to dismiss police chief
The fatal crash was referenced by James in October as he announced the firing of police chief Frank Adderley. James said he was "deeply disturbed" by the accused officers' actions and said it was a factor in his decision to replace Adderley.
Pochette, a native of Jamaica, worked as home-health aide and was a deaconess at the House of God in Delray Beach. Family and friends described her during a funeral service as a loving mother to three children and as being devoted to her work caring for others.
Woods was a graduate of Boynton Beach High School and Florida Atlantic University, and had accepted a teaching position at a Renaissance Charter School. At the time of her death, she was two months pregnant, according to multiple published reports.
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