Florida officer recovering after illegal immigrant causes crash, sending him to the hospital

BELLE ISLE, FL - Last week, Belle Isle police officer Jacob Tapia was injured after an illegal alien, Paula Hernandez Lazaro, crashed into his patrol vehicle as she was making an illegal left turn, Fox News Digital reports. 

The crash occurred on April 3 when Lazaro failed to yield while turning left. In addition to the moving violation, Lazaro was charged with operating without a license. The impact was so severe that Tapia’s car went off the road and struck a tree and a fence. 

Tapia was treated at Orlando Regional Medical Center for minor injuries and released the same day, authorities said. 

“He’s expected to make a full recovery and will be following up to ensure there are no lingering issues,” the department said in a release. 

This wasn’t Lazaro’s first rodeo, having been previously cited for driving without a license. 

After additional investigation, Belle Isle police discovered Lazaro was in the country illegally. She was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle without a valid license and unauthorized entry into Florida. Chief Travis Grimm told FOX 35 Orlando that the Florida Highway Patrol is handling the investigation due to the crash involving an on-duty police officer. 

“Not only did she have a few arrests for driving without a license, never having a license,” Grimm said. “She was also an illegal status, and they were putting a detainer on her.” 

Lazaro’s immigration status was called into question when she handed a state trooper her Mexican passport, which did not contain a validation stamp for entry into the U.S. Lazaro has been living in Florida for 11 years and entered the country illegally through Texas, authorities said. During those 11 years, Lazaro never attempted to obtain legal status. 

Grimm said Florida Highway Patrol staff have undergone necessary training to handle and arrest suspected illegal aliens. 

“FHP has gone through the training already with ICE,” Grimm said. “I don’t want to speak on their behalf, but they’ve already gotten the clearance and the latitude to be able to use those authorities.” 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has vowed to have Florida law enforcement agencies cooperate with ICE in fulfilling President Trump’s promise to deport illegal aliens. 

“They’ve been doing it,” Grimm said of the Florida Highway Patrol. “Last time we sat down and talked with FHP, they are ramping up.” 

In a Facebook post, the Bell Isle police thanked citizens for checking in on the injured officer over the past week. 

“Your support means the world to him and to all of us. It’s genuinely amazing to serve a community that cares so deeply about its police officers.”