POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A speed enforcement operation on Interstate 4 led to the arrest of a Zephyrhills man on Saturday, June 20, 2026, after deputies spotted a white Cadillac Escalade traveling at extreme speeds and weaving erratically through traffic.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit, a deputy’s radar registered the Escalade traveling at 100 MPH in a designated 70 MPH zone. Authorities noted that the vehicle was cutting in and out of lanes, forcing nearby drivers to slam on their brakes and take evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision.
When the deputy pulled the vehicle over, the driver was identified as 34-year-old Rolando Perez Hernandez of Zephyrhills. The stopping officer immediately noted visible signs of intoxication. Following his arrest, Hernandez underwent a breath test, which measured his breath alcohol content at .170g/210L—more than double Florida’s legal limit of .08.
A background check revealed that Hernandez has a history of driving offenses and immigration violations. His driver’s license was originally revoked in April 2022 following a prior DUI arrest, which resulted in his deportation to Mexico by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Investigators determined that Hernandez illegally re-entered the United States sometime in 2024.
Hernandez is currently being held at the Polk County Jail on four specific counts: third-degree felony driving with a suspended or revoked license, misdemeanor DUI with a blood-alcohol content of .15 or higher, misdemeanor dangerous excessive speed, and misdemeanor reckless driving.
Due to his illegal status in the country, each of these state charges has been elevated by one degree under Florida law. ICE has also issued an official administrative hold on Hernandez, ensuring he remains detained for federal authorities.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd released a statement regarding the weekend arrest and the suspect’s history.
“It’s a miracle this suspect, with his blatant disregard for our laws, didn’t kill someone or himself the way he was recklessly speeding and driving drunk on I-4,” Sheriff Judd said. “It is our hope that once he’s deported again, he stays out of the United States for good – and we will do everything we can to ensure that happens.”
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