An investigation into a minor fender bender on Sunday turned into a major breakthrough for law enforcement when deputies realized a passenger had been evading capture since 2004. Carl Rivera, a 52-year-old resident of Southbridge, Massachusetts, was taken into custody around 8:30 p.m. following a crash in Flagler County.
The arrest concluded a 22-year run for Rivera, who was found to have two active felony fugitive warrants out of Miami-Dade County. According to investigators, those warrants were originally issued over two decades ago.
The first involved charges for possession of a controlled substance and a subsequent violation of probation, while the second stemmed from charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use.
Rivera’s presence in the vehicle during the traffic accident investigation allowed deputies to run a standard background check, which immediately flagged the outstanding Florida warrants.
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Following the discovery, Rivera was arrested and booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. Records show he is currently being held without bond as he awaits extradition.
Sheriff Rick Staly noted that the arrest was the result of thorough police work during what seemed like a mundane call.
“This guy has been wanted in Miami for over 20 years,” Staly said. “I commend our deputies for looking beyond the initial call and apprehending this guy who thought he had escaped the long arm of the law. Instead, he earned himself a trip to the Green Roof Inn and a free trip to Miami by the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office.”
The Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office is expected to handle the transport of Rivera back to South Florida to face the charges that have remained on the books since the early 2000s. No other injuries or arrests were reported in connection with the traffic crash.
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