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Welcome to the Polk County Sheriff's Office News Room, where the Public Information Officers (PIO's) post all of the information that they release to the news media. PIO's act as liaisons between news media organizations and the Sheriff's Office. The PIO's routinely release timely and accurate information and Crime Stoppers bulletins, and respond to routine and "breaking news" media inquiries. News releases and Crime Stoppers information can be found on this page.
PCSO's full-time Public Information Officers are Brian Bruchey, Carrie Horstman, and Meghan Petty. The Public Information Officers can be reached by sending an e-mail collectively at PIOs@polksheriff.org.
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Aug 27, 2018
Mexican man using an alias arrested by PCSO for DUI after hit and run
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
On Saturday, August 25, 2018, Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a man from Mexico for Driving Under the Influence, after a hit and run crash near Bartow.
The man arrested identified himself as 38-year-old Saul Munoz Moran , but deputies discovered this was an alias he has been living under, and his real name is Fernando Camacho Perez.
Deputies were first notified of a problem at around 10:07 p.m. Saturday, when Moran's pickup truck was reported to be swerving all over the road near Alturas. The witness was able to provide a tag-number for the truck, location updates, and then a collision, in which Moran struck the rear of a car that was stopped at a red light at Highway 60 East and Alturas Road.
The witness stopped to aid the other motorist, as Moran fled from the crash scene.
The driver of the vehicle which was hit by Moran was 41-year-old Edmaliz Escalante Rivera, of 201 Highland Drive, Lake Wales. Rivera was not injured.
Deputies caught up to Moran at Highway 60 and Prairie Mine Road in Mulberry, and conducted a traffic stop.
Moran told deputies that he was heading home, and recently drank a six pack of beer, but denied being involved in a crash. Eyewitnesses, physical evidence, and a failed field-sobriety test provided deputies with enough probable cause for Moran's arrest.
At the Polk County Jail, Moran refused to provide a breath sample, telling deputies he didn't have a license that could be suspended.
"There is no regard for the law or even for human life with this person. He's a danger to everyone, and we're going to do everything we can to keep him off of Polk County roads." - Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Moran was charged with DUI with Property Damage (M-1) and No Valid DL (M-2) and Leaving the Scene of a Crash (M-2). His prior criminal history includes one felony charge (concealed firearm) and four misdemeanor charges (Discharge Firearm in Public, Driving Under the Influence, Traffic Offense, and No Valid DL).
Due to Moran residing in the United States illegally, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement initiated a hold on him.
Saul Munoz Moran