A Zephyrhills man was arrested during a speed enforcement operation on Interstate 4 on Saturday, June 20, 2026, after deputies saw a white Cadillac Escalade moving at high speeds and weaving recklessly through traffic.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit, a deputy’s radar detected the Escalade driving at 100 mph in a 70 mph zone. Authorities reported that the vehicle was weaving in and out of lanes, causing other drivers to slam on their brakes and do evasive manoeuvres to escape a collision.
When the deputy stopped the vehicle, the driver was recognised as Rolando Perez Hernandez, 34, of Zephyrhills. The halting officer instantly noticed evident indicators of intoxication. Following his arrest, Hernandez took a breath test, which revealed a breath alcohol concentration of [insert value here]. 170g/210L, more than double Florida’s legal limit of 0.08.
A background check found Hernandez’s history of traffic charges and immigration problems. His driver’s licence was initially suspended in April 2022 due to a past DUI arrest, which culminated in his deportation to Mexico by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Investigators discovered that Hernandez unlawfully re-entered the United States in 2024.
Hernandez is currently being held in Polk County Jail on four specific charges: third-degree felony driving with a suspended or revoked licence and misdemeanour DUI with a blood-alcohol percentage of. 15 or greater, misdemeanour dangerous excessive speed, and misdemeanour reckless driving.
Because of his illegal presence in the country, each of these state offences has been increased by one level under Florida law. ICE has also placed an official administrative hold on Hernandez, ensuring that he remains imprisoned by federal authorities.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd issued a statement about the weekend arrest and the suspect’s background.
“It’s a miracle this suspect, with his blatant disregard for our laws, didn’t kill someone or himself the way he was recklessly speeding and driving drunk on I-4,” Judd said. “It is our hope that once he’s deported again, he stays out of the United States for good – and we will do everything we can to ensure that happens.”
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