Sheriff wants deportation for driver accused of running motorcyclist off road

SARASOTA (FOX 13) - The video of a driver running a motorcyclist off the road infuriated many, including Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight. 

"This victim is lucky to be alive today," he said. 

The status of the suspect makes the Sheriff even angrier. Magdiel Medrano-Bonilla was arrested for aggravated battery and driving without a license after they said he purposely slammed into Darin Hendrickson on Sunday night.

Medrano-Bonilla entered the U.S, illegally from El-Salvador in 2014. 

"I want him out of my community," said Sheriff Tom Knight. "I don't want him to kill somebody."

Medrano-Bonilla claimed asylum at the time and said he feared for his life. 

Now he's in the Sarasota County jail awaiting his trial, but what comes next concerns the sheriff. 

He's worried that instead of deporting Medrano-Bonilla, federal authorities will grant him an asylum hearing which could put him back on the streets. 

"I have a fear he will probably get back out when his case will be resolved and, who knows, if his temper flares up and he doesn't kill somebody," said Sheriff Knight. 

The sheriff has seen it before. In January of 2017 deputies arrested Carlos Echeverria-Pena for a road rage incident in North Port. 

They learned he was here illegally and had been arrested in Maryland for assault. 

"We've shown the recidivism rate is very high for these individuals. They go back on the street, they are going to commit another crime. You can count on it," said Sheriff Knight. 

The sheriff doesn't blame ICE. He blames the system. 

He wants the federal government to step in with more help to speed up the deportation of criminal aliens.

"I'm looking at individuals who are committing crimes, almost killing somebody by running them off the road, and getting them removed and making it easier for ICE to remove them without all the bureaucracy that's been going on for 20 years," the sheriff said. 

Sheriff Knight said that would make his community safer. 

Medrano-Bonilla remains in the Sarasota County Jail on a $20,000 bond. 

If he tries to bond out, a hold will be placed on him for ICE to make contact with Medrano-Bonilla.