TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Legal professional Common James Uthmeier introduced Thursday felony prices in opposition to a person recognized as an unlawful alien from Mexico who allegedly attacked a Florida Freeway Patrol trooper throughout a site visitors cease in Hillsborough County.
The Workplace of Statewide Prosecution, in partnership with the State Legal professional’s Workplace for the thirteenth Judicial Circuit, will cost Leonardo Gomez Hernandez, 40, of Mexico, with battery on a regulation enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence.
The fees have been elevated to second-degree felonies “resulting from his standing as an unlawful alien,” with every cost carrying a most penalty of as much as 15 years in jail and a $10,000 nice. Gomez Hernandez is being held with out bond within the Hillsborough County Jail.
The incident occurred Monday when a Florida Freeway Patrol trooper stopped a automobile on State Street 579 for an improperly displayed tag. Throughout the encounter, the trooper realized each the motive force and the passenger, Gomez Hernandez, have been within the U.S. illegally.
The trooper tried to detain Gomez Hernandez underneath the federal 287(g) program. Gomez Hernandez, who entered the U.S. “with out inspection at an unknown date and time,” allegedly resisted arrest and tried to flee after the trooper deployed his Taser.
As Gomez Hernandez allegedly “choked and punched the trooper.” Troopers have been capable of detain him after backup arrived.
“Florida won’t tolerate violent criminals—particularly those that shouldn’t even be in our nation—attacking our regulation enforcement officers,” Uthmeier mentioned. “Our troopers danger their lives to maintain this state protected, and people who assume they’ll assault a Florida officer will face the complete weight of the regulation.”
Florida Division of Freeway Security and Motor Automobiles Govt Director Dave Kerner known as the incident “an assault on our neighborhood,” saying, “a state trooper was attacked whereas implementing state and federal immigration regulation. He was serving and defending our neighborhood.”
FHP Colonel Gary Howze praised the trooper’s actions, saying the incident is “a reminder of the braveness and devoted professionalism your troopers show when confronting violent offenders.”
