POLK COUNTY, Fla. – What began as a routine traffic stop for an expired tag in Wahneta escalated into a dramatic encounter just after midnight on Sunday, leading to the arrest of two individuals, one of whom is an illegal alien from Venezuela.
A Polk County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol in the area of Rifle Range Road near Eagle Lake Loop saw a Pontiac G6 with a registration sticker that expired in June 2023. The deputy initiated a traffic stop, and the driver, identified as 57-year-old Jose Adorno Pabon of Wahneta, pulled over. Pabon informed the deputy he did not speak English and did not possess a driver’s license.
As the deputy began his investigation, the passenger, 37-year-old Jhonnys Robles Pereira of Wahneta, unexpectedly exited the vehicle.
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Despite multiple commands from the deputy to remain inside the car, Pereira ignored the directives and advanced towards the officer. Pereira then ran directly at the deputy, striking him before fleeing on foot. Simultaneously, Pabon accelerated away from the scene at a high rate of speed.
The deputy pursued Pereira on foot, repeatedly yelling at him to stop. After a brief chase, the deputy caught up to Pereira and deployed his Taser, successfully taking him into custody.
Authorities subsequently confirmed with ICE that Pereira is in the country illegally from Venezuela, resulting in upgraded charges. An ICE hold has been placed on him at the Polk County Jail. Pereira faces charges of battery on a law enforcement officer (F2), resisting arrest with violence (F2), and resisting arrest without violence (F3).
Meanwhile, backup units in the area located the fleeing Pontiac and initiated another traffic stop, apprehending Pabon. Although Pabon, who is Puerto Rican, was found to possess a valid driver’s license, deputies noted clear signs of impairment.
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During a field sobriety test, he displayed six out of eight clues of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Pabon admitted to deputies that he had consumed “five beers” and stated he fled because he had not yet registered his recently purchased car or obtained insurance for it.
Pabon has been charged with fleeing to elude (F3), resisting arrest (M1), DUI (M2), attaching unassigned tag (M2), operating a vehicle without registration (M2), and failure to maintain vehicle insurance (M2).
Sheriff Grady Judd commented on the incident, stating, “They say there’s no such thing as a routine traffic stop, and that nothing good happens after midnight. We’re grateful that this traffic stop resulted in a drunk driver being taken off the road before killing someone, and that our deputy wasn’t more seriously injured when the suspect who is here illegally slammed into him while fleeing.”
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