Man arrested after downtown Orlando chase that drew police fire has criminal record, records show

ORLANDO, Florida – A man sped recklessly through downtown Orlando’s busy nightlife over the Halloween weekend, hitting several cars and prompting a police officer to fire his gun while trying to stop him, police said.

The suspect, 30-year-old Cliff Francois, is facing multiple charges following the chaotic incident. According to court documents, Francois was still scheduled to be on probation for a 2014 armed robbery and is currently involved in a separate criminal case since July.

At the time of the incident, downtown Orlando was packed for Halloween celebrations, and police said they initially approached Francois in a parking garage after noticing he was parked between two lots. When officers tried to talk to him, Francois sped off, driving the wrong way down Pine Street.

Francois hit two police cars, including a Ford Explorer that was blocking the road and protecting pedestrians. Francois also drove onto the sidewalk, causing several people to dive out of the way, according to the arrest report.

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Jose Torres, an employee at the nearby Corona Cigar Company, said the area was packed with people in costumes for the Plaza Halloween event. “If you’re driving down that street while there’s protesters or people there, you’re going to take a few lives, so I’m glad they got it under control,” Torres said.

The chase ended when Francois crashed into a light pole, abandoned the car and tried to flee on foot. During the pursuit, the police officer fired his weapon, but did not hit anyone. Francois was captured, handcuffed and sent to prison.

This was not the first time that François ran from the police. In July, he allegedly led officers on a chase after he was spotted driving a car with no license plate and headlights off.

The officer who fired has been placed on paid administrative leave, as per standard protocol, while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates the use of force.

Francois remains in custody pending an investigation.

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