A man, who was in the United States illegally from Turkey, found himself in a precarious situation after leading law enforcement on a chase in Polk County. The Polk County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that Ege Bilgin, born September 18, 1992, was arrested on Tuesday, following a pursuit that concluded with him attempting to hide inside the drywall of a motel room.
The incident began when a deputy noticed Bilgin driving erratically in a white Corvette along I-4; however, despite initially pulling over, Bilgin sped off as the deputy approached, thereby unfolding a sequence of events which led to his detention. The Polk County Sheriff's Office reported that Bilgin, after being spotted at the Home Suites motel in Davenport, fled on foot and eventually a deputy, aided by construction workers' information, located him secreted in the bathroom of a Stayable Suites motel room.
Attempts to coax Bilgin from his drywall concealment failed, prompting deputies to introduce a chemical agent to compel surrender; he complied and was subsequently taken into custody, while initially providing false identification, Bilgin ultimately revealed his true identity, triggering contact with ICE, who confirmed his pending removal order from the country. According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Bilgin now faces a series of enhanced charges due to his immigration status.
"While it's true this suspect would have been taken into custody for his expired license had he simply pulled over when stopped, he would have only been charged with the one traffic misdemeanor and his removal order would have been served. Now he has five felonies to deal with before he's deported back to Turkey," Sheriff Grady Judd was quoted in the press release. The charges include two counts of resisting arrest without violence, burglary of an occupied dwelling, fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer, driving without a valid license, and giving a false name to law enforcement.
The incident brings into focus the complexities of immigration enforcement and the cascading legal ramifications of what began as a routine traffic stop. Bilgin's legal journey ahead will precede any actions taken regarding his immigration status and the pending removal order. An ICE detainer has been placed on Bilgin at the Polk County Jail, ensuring that immigration authorities will have the opportunity to take him into custody following the resolution of his criminal charges.
