A 20-year-old man was sentenced to three years in the Florida Department of Corrections after leaving the scene of a crash and fleeing Bradenton Beach police.
Represented by a public defender, Hector E. Galarza pleaded no contest Feb. 17. Police and court records list Ruskin and “anywhere Bradenton” as addresses for Galarza.
Twelfth Circuit Judge Hunter Carroll found him guilty on one felony count of fleeing law enforcement and four misdemeanor counts: resisting arrest, leaving a scene of a crash, no valid driver’s license and criminal mischief.
The judge’s sentence also included a credit for 144 days in jail.
Bradenton Beach initially suggested a vehicle theft charge, but the state declined the charge.
Events leading to Galarza’s arrest in March 2016 began with Bradenton Beach police receiving a call about a stolen vehicle leaving the scene of a crash.
Noticing the car in traffic in the 1200 block of Gulf Drive South, a BBPD officer signaled the motorist to stop. Instead, the driver sped around traffic onto a dead-end at 10th Street South.
Police apprehended Galarza after a foot chase and struggle.
Galarza faced five years in prison on the felony count, one year and 180 days on the misdemeanors.
Galzara bonded out of Manatee County jail after his arrest but failed to appear at a September 2016 court hearing.
A warrant was issued and Galarza was returned to jail.
He remained in the county jail Feb. 23.