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…