Polk County deputies have apprehended Omar Sotero-Vera, originally from Mexico and residing in the U.S. without legal authorization, following a crash in Polk City. According to a press release by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Sotero-Vera was charged with multiple offenses, including leaving a scene of an accident involving property damage, driving under the influence, and operating a vehicle without a valid driver's license.
The incident took place late on January 30, when Sotero-Vera was reported to have collided with a concrete barrier before fleeing into nearby woods. A witness's 911 call triggered a response from authorities, who deployed a drone unit to track down the suspect. The charges against Sotero-Vera are elevated due to his immigration status, an enhancement policy that raises the legal stakes for those without papers caught in the act of a crime.
Post-arrest, Sotero-Vera exhibited signs of impairment and injuries consistent with such a crash, and admitted to deputies that fear, stemming from his lack of a driver's license, propelled him to run. The truck's owner confirmed that he had entrusted the vehicle to Sotero-Vera to avoid a towing. Subsequent field sobriety tests concluded failure, and breathalyzer readings revealed levels nearly twice the legal limit for impairment.
A detainer was placed on Sotero-Vera by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as deputies determined he had been in the country illegally for three years. Sheriff Grady Judd was quoted as saying, "I'm very proud of the witness who called us and the swift actions of my deputies who took this illegal criminal alien into custody. As drunk as he was it's a miracle he didn't hurt or kill anyone," as mentioned on the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
