LAKELAND, Fla. – A routine traffic stop for reckless driving on Thursday evening led to the arrest of an illegal alien from Mexico who was also wanted on an out-of-state warrant in Illinois, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident began at approximately 7:10 p.m. on May 22nd when a PCSO deputy observed a gray Chevy pickup truck speeding, squealing its tires, and disregarding a stop sign at the intersection of Azalea Court and Chestnut Road in the Lakeland area.
The deputy activated emergency lights and pursued the truck. The driver, later identified as 31-year-old Fernando Rodriguez of Guanajuato, Mexico, turned onto a dead-end street where the deputy conducted the traffic stop.
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Upon investigation, deputies discovered that Rodriguez is in the United States illegally and has never possessed a driver’s license. Further checks revealed an outstanding warrant for Rodriguez from Illinois for Failure to Appear on a DUI charge.
Despite the active warrant, Illinois authorities declined to extradite Rodriguez.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office notified U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE officials reportedly expressed their intention to take Rodriguez into federal custody.
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