Illegal Venezuelan National Arrested for Battery on Deputy in Wahneta Traffic Stop

Photo courtesy of Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO)

Staff Reporter  | iSkyNews.com (ISC News)

Published May 25th, 2025

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Wahneta, FL — What began as a routine traffic stop for an expired tag turned chaotic just after midnight on Sunday, May 25, 2025, when a Polk County Sheriff’s deputy encountered two men, one of whom was in the country illegally and is now facing felony charges.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was patrolling the area of Rifle Range Road near Eagle Lake Loop when he noticed a Pontiac G6 displaying a registration sticker that expired in June 2023. The deputy initiated a traffic stop, and the vehicle pulled over.

The driver, identified as 57-year-old Jose Adorno Pabon of Wahneta, told the deputy he did not speak English and admitted he did not have a driver’s license. As the deputy began investigating, the passenger—later identified as 37-year-old Jhonnys Robles Pereira, also of Wahneta—exited the vehicle against the deputy’s commands.

Pereira reportedly ignored repeated instructions to remain inside the vehicle and instead charged the deputy, striking him before fleeing on foot. The deputy pursued him and deployed a Taser to bring him into custody.

Pereira was arrested and later confirmed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be in the United States illegally from Venezuela. Due to his immigration status, his charges have been enhanced. He is now facing:

• Battery on a law enforcement officer (F2)
• Resisting arrest with violence (F2)
• Resisting arrest without violence (F3)

An ICE hold has been placed on him at the Polk County Jail.

Meanwhile, as Pereira fled, Pabon sped off in the vehicle. Backup deputies located the Pontiac a short time later and conducted a second traffic stop. Pabon, who is Puerto Rican and holds a valid driver’s license, showed clear signs of impairment. During a field sobriety test, he exhibited six out of eight indicators of intoxication and admitted to drinking five beers. He also confessed that he had recently purchased the vehicle but had not registered it or obtained insurance.

Pabon was arrested and faces multiple charges:

• Fleeing to elude (F3)
• Resisting arrest (M1)
• Driving under the influence (M2)
• Attaching unassigned tag (M2)
• Operating an unregistered vehicle (M2)
• Failure to maintain insurance (M2)

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd commented on the incident, stating:

“They say there’s no such thing as a routine traffic stop, and that nothing good happens after midnight. We’re grateful that this traffic stop resulted in a drunk driver being taken off the road before killing someone, and that our deputy wasn’t more seriously injured when the suspect who is here illegally slammed into him while fleeing.”

The investigation remains ongoing, and both suspects remain in custody.

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