POLK COUNTY, Fla. – An undocumented immigrant from Haiti was arrested on Friday by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office after allegedly refusing to clean up an oil spill that threatened Eagle Lake. Alex Outten, 44, faces felony charges stemming from the environmental incident.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Outten, an Eagle Lake resident whose work visa has expired, was charged with three counts of Failing to Obtain a Permit. While typically a third-degree misdemeanor, Outten’s charges were elevated to third-degree felonies due to his illegal immigration status.
The incident began on May 28, when Eagle Lake Code Enforcement discovered a used oil spill at Outten’s residence at 890 Timberland Drive. Outten reportedly attributed the spill to a leaking container…