A Holmes Beach police officer ran a Florida tag.
And that led Officer Jason Higgins to determine Juan Diaz, 30, of Bradenton, not only lacked a driver’s license, he also was wanted on a warrant for illegal entry into the country.
Diaz provided a Mexican passport for identification when Higgins pulled him over at 5:25 p.m. Sept. 20 in the 12000 block of Manatee Avenue. Higgins followed the motorist over the Anna Maria Island Bridge from Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach.
The officer confirmed the warrant with the U.S. Marshal’s Service, which faxed a direction to the Manatee County jail to hold Diaz.
Diaz’s warrant photo matched his face and, “when he looked at the picture, he said it was him,” according to the HBPD officer’s report.
Diaz was arrested for a suggested misdemeanor driver’s license charge.
Formal charges by the 12th Circuit State Attorney’s office are pending.
As of Sept. 28, Diaz remained in custody at the jail on the immigration hold, according to Manatee County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Randy Warren.
His court arraignment in the driver’s license case is at 8:25 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22 at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.