Deputies: Boy hit by car; 2 men found holding woman against her will in abandoned RV

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Lake County deputies have two men in custody after a child was seriously hurt in a hit-and-run crash Tuesday morning during a possible kidnapping of a woman.

Deputies said Christian Messick, 19, of Leesburg, and Mariano Taclay, 24, of Eustis, are currently being charged with burglary and false imprisonment with additional charges to follow.

Deputies said it started with a crash involving Preston Sandoval, 12, who was waiting for a bus on Thomas Boat Landing Road in Umatilla. He was flown to a hospital.

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Investigators said Messick blew through a stop sign, turned right and struck Preston, briefly dragging him beneath the car.

They said Messick drove to the end of the street, turned around and drove by Preston again.

Investigators said a school bus driver spotted the suspects' silver vehicle and called for help.

Troopers said they later found the car abandoned on County Road 42 in Umatilla.

A K-9 discovered Messick, Taclay and Toni Phelps hiding in an old RV. Deputies said they forced the trio to come out, and they were detained.

Investigators said Phelps was riding in the car at the time of the crash, but she said she was being held against her will. She was released and told deputies the suspects had a bag full of guns.

Deputies said the men tried to get rid of them by throwing them in a nearby lake.

Messick was also charged with driving under the influence and driving without a license.

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