Plant City hit-and-run suspect located in Connecticut
PLANT CITY, Fla. - Nearly a month after a deadly hit-and-run crash, Plant City police convinced a suspect to come back to Florida after he was located out-of-state, they said.
The initial crash occurred on January 17 around 7:30 p.m. along Charlie Taylor Road. Police said when they arrived on scene, they found the victim, 57-year-old Arturo Martinez Ramirez, dead. They said the victim was struck by a 2006 Hyundai Tucson GLS, but the driver left the area before units arrived.
The vehicle was found empty at the Shangri La Mobile Estates, located at 2850 New Tampa Highway, Lakeland, Florida. Through their investigation, detectives said they identified the suspect as 36-year-old Emmanuel Burgos Mercado.
Plant City police said they located him in Connecticut. He came back to Florida, was interviewed, and arrested for leaving the scene of a crash and driving with a suspended license. He also faces a charge of tampering with evidence.