A man who fled a Central Florida hit-and-run crash was apprehended, but the suspect faces more than just local charges.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, a suspect who was in the nation illegally from Mexico recently fled a hit-and-run accident in Winter Haven but was apprehended immediately.
Two deputies on Rifle Range Road responded to the victim’s call, who informed them that a burgundy Nissan Frontier vehicle had rear-ended her. According to PCSO, she contacted 911 before seeing the cops in the vicinity.
She told the deputies that the man who hit her got out of the truck and pleaded with her not to contact police. His female passenger also requested that she not contact law enforcement. The victim informed them both that she was contacting 911, at which point they returned to the truck and fled the scene.
The victim gave deputies the vehicle tag number, and they drove to the registered residence on Ridgeview East in Winter Haven, where they found the truck parked in the back yard beneath a tarp. They approached 39-year-old Jose Obregon Salgado at the front entrance, who attempted to flee back inside.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested him, and the victim positively identified him. Salgado was charged with tampering with evidence, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of an accident, and not having a valid driver’s license.
Because of the suspect’s illegal alien status, each offense is upgraded by one degree, and an ICE detainer has been put on him in the Polk County Jail. Salgado was also detained in 2024 for not having a valid driver’s license, according to PCSO.
“If this suspect had just remained at the scene, he would have been arrested and charged with no valid DL, and given a traffic citation for the crash,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “Now he’s facing two felonies and other serious charges because he chose to run, attempted to hide the evidence, and resisted law enforcement.”
Leave a Reply