Speeds Near 120 MPH. Driver Claims He Was Carjacked. Then Mentions Ski Mask In Underwear.
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Boynton Beach resident Rom Landon is facing multiple charges after a high speed chase on I-95 leads to a crash, a claim of carjacking, and the revelation of a white ski mask in his underwear. We are publishing the lengthy report filed by Florida Highway Patrol which shows not just what FHP Troopers deal with, but how much work goes into an arrest:
>>On Sunday, February 23rd, 2025, at approximately 10:17 PM, I, Trooper Herrera (Permanent ID #5279, Radio ID #1749), was conducting traffic enforcement northbound on Interstate 95 (State Road 9) just south of State Road 812 (Lantana Road) in a fully marked Florida Highway Patrol agency vehicle with painted insignias, in the county of Palm Beach, Florida. While observing northbound traffic, I observed a blue in color vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed in the number 4 travel lane (the travel lanes are numbered from left to right). I was able to see that the vehicle was noticeably driving at a faster speed than the vehicles around it as it was driving past them. The vehicle then abruptly changed lanes from the number 4 travel lane all the way across to the number 1 travel lane and in the process causing multiple vehicles to apply their brakes or make sudden maneuvers to avoid a collision with the blue in color vehicle. As the vehicle was approaching 6th Ave S, I was able to get behind it and the Florida license plate attached read “92EUXZ”. A records check was later conducted through FCIC/NCIC and the license plate came back to a Blue 4 door, 2004 Honda Accord registered to Lidia Rom out of the city of Boynton Beach, Florida.
At 10:18 PM, l activated my emergency lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle for Reckless driving (F. S. S. 316.192(3c). The vehicle did not stop and began to actively flee proceeding to accelerate in the number 1 travel lane reaching a top speed of 94 mph which I observed by reading on my speedometer. The vehicle then changed lanes from the number 1 travel lane across to the number 5 travel lane and proceeded as to take the northbound exit ramp to 10th Ave N, before then changing back to the number 5 travel lane and accelerating to a top speed of 113 mph. The vehicle then abruptly changed from the number 5 travel lane to the number 4 travel lane to avoid a collision with an SUV that was traveling in the number 5 travel lane. The vehicle continued to actively flee at speeds as high as 117 mph while showing wanton disregard for the motoring public. As the vehicle approached State Road 882 (Foresthill Blvd), it changed lanes to the number 6 travel lane before changing to the outside lane of Foresthill’s exit ramp.
Consequently, the vehicle, while still traveling at a high rate of speed, did not have the stopping distance and crashed over the concrete curve that separates the eastbound and westbound traffic. Post collision with the curve the vehicle was sent in a northeasterly direction before causing a collision with two other vehicles. It is to be noted that the driver of vehicle two was transported to JFK South due to the injuries sustained from the crash. The front right passenger of vehicle three, who was a minor, was transported to the hospital for injuries.
Immediately after the crash, I exited my patrol vehicle and began walking towards the vehicle, where I noticed the occupants getting out and beginning to run away. There were three occupants in total and I was able to see that the driver was a white male and had on black sweatpants, black shoes, a black sweatshirt with a white sweatband around his forehead. I began pursuing the driver, who I saw exit through the driver’s side, and I gave him verbal commands to get on the ground. The driver did not comply and began running in a northwesterly direction. Just north of the scene of the accident the driver lost his shoes as he was getting ready to jump over a fence. I jumped the fence with him and continued to give him verbal commands to stop but was met with negative results. I proceeded in pursuing the driver and lost visual of him once he started to run eastbound on Forest Ct.
While canvassing the area for surveillance footage or any sightings of the suspects, Trooper J. Gabriel (ID #5165) was able to get surveillance footage from (nearby) residences, that placed the driver in the area. The surveillance footage provided from one residence showed a white male matching the suspect description, running through the front lawn. The suspect can be seen taking off a black hoodie while holding onto what appeared to be a white in color headband in his left hand. It is to be noted that the person in the video was running with no shoes on his feet and had white and gray socks. The surveillance footage provided from (another) residence showed that prior to the suspect reaching the (area) that is located further east, the suspect was seen running through their front lawn still wearing the black sweatshirt and white sweatband.
Trooper F. Flores (ID #5161) later made contact with PBSO Deputy Snelgrove (ID #38872) who informed us that someone contacted him in the area of Summit Blvd, just west of Parker Ave, to tell him that he had recently been carjacked. Upon making contact with the complainant, Trooper Flores noticed that it was a white male, who did not have on any shoes, appeared sweaty and had a laceration on his left hand. Trooper Flores was able to provide me with a picture of the complainant I was able to recognize that he matched the description of the driver. The complainant voluntarily agreed to come with Trooper Flores to meet with me for questioning.
Post Miranda warnings the suspect who later identified through his Florida Driver License, as W/M Landon Rom, agreed to speak with me. I asked Mr. Rom what happened, and he told me that he had stopped on the northbound outside paved emergency shoulder of Interstate 95, just north of Lantana Road to change his tire. He stated that while he was changing his tires a passing motorist had stepped out with him to assist in changing his tire. Mr. Rom stated that after they were done changing the tire that the person who assisted him took out a gun and struck him behind the head with it before car jacking him. He stated that the suspect then drove onto the Interstate, traveling northbound. It is to be noted that the complainant did not have any visible signs of any injuries behind his head and also that the vehicle’s spare tire was still in the trunk of the vehicle, so no tire was changed. I asked Mr. Rom how he had gotten to the area where he spoke with the Sheriff Deputy and he stated that he had walked. The shoes that were found by the gate that was jumped over during the foot pursit, were some black in color size 9 Balenciagas. I asked Mr. Ramos where his shoes were, and he told me they had come off after he had ran in fear of his life from the area of where he stated he was car jacked just north of Lanata Road. I then asked him what kind of shoes he had on and he said some black Balenciagas. After asking him if he wanted to admit to being the driver of the vehicle at the time of the pursuit, he began to only respond with close ended answers.
I asked him if he didn’t stop because he was scared and he tilted his head forward as to say yes but did not verbally respond. He then advised me that he wished to not answer any more questions so my questioning was ceased.
At 12:07 AM on February 24th, due to Mr. Rom matching the description of the driver, he was placed under arrest. Prior to placing Mr. Rom in my back seat, he was searched and during the search he informed me that he had a white ski mask tucked behind his underwear. That ski mask is what he had on his head during the foot pursuit and what had appeared to be a white sweat band as he did not unfold it all the way down his face. It was removed and placed with his personal belongings.
Mr. Rom was transported to JFK North for medical clearance. At approximately 2:24 AM, Mr. Ramos agreed to speak with me once again regarding the incident. Mr. Rom admitted to me that he was the driver of the vehicle. He also admitted to wearing the black Balenciaga shoes during the foot pursuit. I asked him why he did not stop the vehicle, and he stated that he did not want to get his license suspended due to points suspension, so he chose to flee instead. A records check through DAVID showed that he currently has 11 points on his driving record, so he knew that a speeding ticket probably would’ve caused his driver license to be suspended.<<
Rom is charged with “flee/elude police causing injury or death,” “damage property, criminal mischief,” “moving traffic violation, reckless driving,” “hit and run, fail to stop at a crash involving injury other than severe bodily injury,” “drug possession,” “resist an officer without violence.” Rom lives on Manatee Bay Drive in Boynton Beach. He is being held on more than $15,000 bond.
