By Shawn Henry 
What began as an attempt to impress a first date ended with an arrest Saturday night after deputies say a man performed aggressive driving maneuvers in a church parking lot in Englewood, Florida.
Charlotte County deputies arrested 28-year-old Landon Morris after receiving multiple reports of a gray Corvette spinning donuts at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on Gulf Coast Boulevard. Witnesses said the car tore through the parking lot at high speed, leaving heavy tire marks and sending thick blue smoke into the air. At one point, the smoke was so dense that the vehicle was briefly obscured from view.
The activity unfolded close to nearby homes, alarming residents who described the noise as extremely loud and consistent with a heavily modified vehicle. Deputies noted that the sound of the Corvette could be heard well beyond the parking lot.
According to investigators, a deputy initially heard the Corvette accelerating south on Winchester Boulevard near South McCall Road. The vehicle was then seen speeding through several residential neighborhoods before entering the church parking lot, where Morris allegedly began spinning the car in tight circles. Smoke continued to rise from the pavement even as law enforcement arrived on scene.
Deputies said Morris admitted he had driven from Orlando to meet a woman from Rotonda West for what was supposed to be their first date. The passenger reportedly acknowledged her role in encouraging the stunt, apologizing to deputies and saying she had asked Morris to perform the donuts as a way to impress her.
Instead, the display drew swift attention from neighbors and law enforcement. Morris was taken into custody and charged with racing.
Residents in the area said the incident underscored ongoing concerns about reckless driving in the neighborhood. Those concerns have been heightened since a fatal crash in July led county officials to install a new four-way stop on Ocean Spray Boulevard. Neighbors noted that the streets are frequently used by families and children, making dangerous driving especially troubling.
Authorities did not report any injuries related to the incident, but deputies emphasized the potential risk posed by high-speed stunts in residential areas. The investigation concluded with Morris’ arrest at the scene, closing out a first date that ended far differently than planned.