WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA — A Lakeland truck driver faces multiple felony charges after Polk County Sheriff’s deputies say he blocked a driver’s vehicle at a traffic light, beat him, retrieved a hammer from his truck, and repeatedly struck him with it — all in front of the victim’s children who were inside the car.
The incident occurred shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Helena Road and Cypress Gardens Boulevard in Winter Haven. Deputies arrived to find the victim bleeding from the nose. The suspect had already left the scene.
What Happened
According to witness and victim statements, the victim was driving on Cypress Gardens Road when two rock-hauling trucks cut him off. He later passed the trucks and moved into a turn lane for Helena Road. While stopped at a traffic light, one of the trucks pulled in front of the victim’s vehicle, blocking him from leaving.
An argument broke out between the drivers. Jose Rosa Negron, 39, of Lakeland, then opened the victim’s car door and struck him before returning to his truck to retrieve a hammer. Negron came back and repeatedly struck the victim with the hammer, grabbed him by the hair, slammed him to the ground, and continued the attack. The victim suffered a broken nose.
Detectives contacted the registered owner of the trucks, who helped identify Negron as the suspect. He was arrested Thursday.
Sheriff’s Statement
“The suspect furiously attacked another driver; it was violent and brutal, and left the victim bloodied, with a broken nose. Making the situation worse was that it all happened in front of the victim’s children who were in the vehicle with him,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Rosa Negron faces the following charges: burglary with battery — a first-degree felony; aggravated battery with a deadly weapon — a second-degree felony; and four counts of false imprisonment — third-degree felonies.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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