POLK COUNTY, Fla. – An undocumented immigrant from Haiti was arrested on Friday by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office after allegedly refusing to clean up an oil spill that threatened Eagle Lake. Alex Outten, 44, faces felony charges stemming from the environmental incident.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Outten, an Eagle Lake resident whose work visa has expired, was charged with three counts of Failing to Obtain a Permit. While typically a third-degree misdemeanor, Outten’s charges were elevated to third-degree felonies due to his illegal immigration status.
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The incident began on May 28, when Eagle Lake Code Enforcement discovered a used oil spill at Outten’s residence at 890 Timberland Drive. Outten reportedly attributed the spill to a leaking container.
The oil was observed streaming approximately 150 feet along the street, flowing into storm drains that ultimately lead to Lake McLeod. At the time, Outten reportedly agreed to clean up the spill.
However, by May 29, Code Enforcement contacted a PCSO Environmental Crimes detective after determining Outten had not taken action to clean the hazardous material.
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“This all happened in a nice, new community. The suspect failed to contain used motor oil, which streamed down the street, into the storm drains, and would eventually make its way into the lake about 1,000 feet away,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “He was given an opportunity to rectify the problem, but failed to do so.”
Due to Alex Outten’s undocumented status in the United States, Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) has been notified.
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