For months, drivers in one Valrico neighborhood could not trust the pavement under their tires. Deputies say a local man spent that time quietly scattering roofing nails across residential streets, leaving neighbors with punctured tires, repair bills, and a constant sense of unease. The pattern started surfacing last September, with investigators logging nearly 30 reports before an arrest in January. Residents say the repeated cleanups and surprise flats had them worried about everyone from late-night drivers to emergency responders.
According to a press release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the investigation began on Sept. 11, 2025, after deputies found hundreds of nails scattered on South Miller Road and Lithia Center Lane. Over time, they recorded 27 additional incidents in the same general area. On Jan. 13, deputies say they observed 51-year-old Felix Uresti placing nails on Miller Road and later found a large bucket of roofing nails in his truck. "Throwing nails into the roadway is a deliberate and malicious act that puts innocent people in danger and carries serious consequences," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in the release.
How deputies say they caught him
As reported by West Orlando News, deputies learned that the driver of a white pickup truck was placing nails at the intersection of Bucknell Road and Miller Road, causing damage to several vehicles. According to that account, surveillance efforts and community tips helped investigators zero in on the truck and match the roofing nails found inside it to debris previously collected at nearby locations.
Neighbors and court
Neighbors told FOX 13 they felt relieved after the arrest, noting that, for months, volunteers and residents had been the ones walking the streets and picking up nails. At Uresti's first court appearance, a judge outlined the charges, set a bond of nearly $1,300, and ordered release conditions that included a private GPS monitor, a ban on driving, and a prohibition on possessing nails or similar construction materials while the case moves forward, the station reported.
Charges and legal implications
The sheriff's office says Uresti faces six counts of criminal mischief involving damage of $1,000 or more, one count of throwing a deadly missile at, within or into a vehicle, and a violation of Florida's litter law. The offense of shooting or throwing a deadly missile is listed in Florida law at Section 790.19 and is typically charged as a second-degree felony. Legal summaries note that second-degree felony weapons offenses can bring significant prison time. Anyone who believes they experienced nail-related damage in the Miller Road area is asked to contact detectives at (813) 247-8200, according to the sheriff's office.
