A flat tire foiled a Kissimmee man’s attempt to avoid police following a hit-and-run early Saturday morning, landing him in custody less than a mile from the crash scene.
The incident occurred around 1:38 a.m. on December 6, when the Polk County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a hit-and-run on US 17 at Vigiron Road. The reporting driver said a black Nissan Altima struck her vehicle and fled immediately. No injuries were reported.
Deputies quickly located the Nissan about a mile from the scene, where the driver, 35-year-old Michael Leon Sanders, Jr., was found attempting to change a tire. Sanders told deputies he fled because he “didn’t want to report the crash.”
Records show Sanders is on Florida Inmate Release Status, serving probation out of Lee County for serious offenses, including Shooting or Throwing a Deadly Missile into a Vehicle or Building, Aggravated Battery, and Aggravated Assault.
Sanders was arrested and booked into the Sheriff’s Processing Center. He now faces Hit & Run with Property Damage and Violation of Probation charges.
Leave a Reply