What started as a routine traffic stop quickly spiraled into chaos on Wednesday evening when Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives encountered a combative passenger in Davenport.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, just after 6 p.m. on March 19, detectives pulled over a white Ford Ranger on Power Line Road near Snell Creek Road. The driver and front-seat passenger were cooperative—but things took a turn when the man in the middle seat suddenly became suspicious.
Deputies say the man tried to hide a small white baggie he pulled from his pocket, tucking it behind him. When detectives moved in to remove him from the vehicle, he fought back—hard. According to the Sheriff’s Office, he tried to bite one detective, elbowed another in the face, and kicked a third repeatedly in the legs.
During the scuffle, he shoved the white baggie into his mouth, seemingly trying to swallow what detectives later confirmed was cocaine.
Despite the struggle, deputies were able to get him in handcuffs. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital to make sure he was okay after ingesting the drugs. Once cleared, he was booked into the Polk County Jail.
The suspect was identified as 60-year-old Esteban Fernandez Uriostegui, a Mexican national who is in the U.S. illegally. Along with being found in possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia, he now faces several serious charges, including:
- Three counts of battery on a law enforcement officer
- Resisting an officer with violence
- Tampering with evidence
- Possession of cocaine
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
Because Uriostegui is in the country unlawfully, all felony charges have been
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd weighed in on the arrest, saying,
“This violent suspect is in the United States illegally from Mexico. Because of that, each of his crimes was enhanced by one degree… ICE has been notified, which means we should be seeing no more criminal behavior (in the U.S., at least) from this particular individual.”
Thankfully, none of the detectives were hurt during the incident. Uriostegui remains behind bars as the case continues to unfold.