Florida police officer injured after illegal alien crashes into patrol car
A Florida police officer is on the road to recovery after an illegal immigrant crashed into his patrol car last week. Belle Isle police officer Jacob Tapia was injured on April 3 when Paula Hernandez Lazaro failed to yield while making a left turn, resulting in a collision with Tapia’s patrol vehicle. The impact was so severe that Tapia’s car veered off the road and struck a tree and a fence.
Tapia was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries and was discharged the same day. The department stated that he is expected to make a full recovery and will undergo follow-up appointments to ensure no lingering issues.
This incident was not the first time Lazaro had been cited for driving without a license. Upon further investigation, Belle Isle police discovered that Lazaro was in the United States illegally. She was subsequently arrested and charged with operating a vehicle without a valid license and unauthorized entry into Florida. The Florida Highway Patrol is currently handling the investigation.
Lazaro’s citizenship status came into question when she presented a state trooper with her Mexican passport, which did not have a stamp indicating legal entry into the U.S. She has been residing in Florida for approximately 11 years after entering the country illegally through Texas.
Belle Isle Police Chief Travis Grimm revealed that Florida Highway Patrol troopers have undergone training to handle and apprehend suspected illegal immigrants. He mentioned that FHP has received the necessary authorization to enforce immigration laws.
The Belle Isle police department expressed gratitude to the community for their support and well wishes for Officer Tapia. They acknowledged the community’s concern for their officers’ well-being, emphasizing the importance of serving a community that values and cares for its law enforcement personnel.
