POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A 46-year-old man from Haines City found himself back in handcuffs Thursday night, but not before a brief attempt to outrun the law. Luis Betancourt Mantilla was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on January 22 after his probation officer reported a violation of his pre-trial release terms.
Mantilla had previously faced serious accusations, including domestic battery and arson of an occupied structure. When the probation officer flagged the violation, a warrant was immediately issued for his arrest.
Deputies spotted Mantilla driving in the area, and the recognition was mutual. As soon as he saw law enforcement, he tried to speed away from the scene. The escape attempt didn’t last long. Deputies managed to maneuver around him and box his vehicle in, leaving him with nowhere to go.
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Even with his car pinned, Mantilla initially refused to come out. Deputies ordered him to exit the vehicle, but he wouldn’t budge. The situation was tense until the deputies made their next move clear. They told him they were about to break his window and pull him out by force.
That warning seemed to be the reality check he needed. Realizing he was going to jail regardless, he decided it wasn’t worth having to pay for a new car window later. He unlocked the door and surrendered without any further trouble.
Mantilla was taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center on the outstanding warrant. Because of the night’s events, he also faces new charges for resisting without violence, driving without a valid license, and having an obstructed license plate.
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