A traffic intervention by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office escalated into a physical altercation, resulting in the arrest of a Mexican national on the evening of Wednesday. A routine traffic stop on Power Line Road, near Snell Creek Road in Davenport, took a volatile turn when the middle passenger of a white Ford Ranger exhibited uncooperative behavior, as conveyed by the Polk County Sheriff's official news release.
The encounter commenced at approximately 6:02 pm when detectives, conducting a regular traffic stop, observed the suspect attempting to covertly transfer a white baggie from his pocket to a concealed location behind him. Efforts to extract him from the vehicle were met with aggression as the suspect tried to bite and elbow one detective, while kicking another. During the conflict, the passenger placed the white baggie into his mouth, risking ingestion. Ultimately, authorities were able to handcuff the suspect—identified as 60-year-old Esteban Fernandez Uriostegui from Mexico—and discovered his possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
Following the tumultuous traffic stop, Fernandez Uriostegui was promptly taken to a local hospital. This precautionary measure was to ensure no harm was done due to the suspected cocaine consumption. After receiving medical clearance, he was escorted to the Polk County Jail. The charges against Fernandez Uriostegui include Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting an Officer with Violence, Tampering with Evidence, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, as detailed in the Sheriff's Office report.
The Sheriff’s Office disclosed that Fernandez Uriostegui now faces multiple third-degree felony charges, which encompass three counts of battery on a law enforcement officer as well as single counts of both resisting an officer with violence and tampering with evidence. The charge of cocaine possession, alongside possession of drug paraphernalia, signals another layer of legal woes for the 60-year-old.
