Image Credit: Polk County Sheriff 
A previously-deported illegal alien with a lengthy rap sheet is facing a slew of felony charges after he allegedly blocked a train, attempted to storm the conductor’s car, and attacked law enforcement in Florida, authorities say.
On Tuesday, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) released details about the disturbing incident, which unfolded on the night of Aug. 30.
A CSX train was stopped at an intersection in the city of Mulberry when a male suspect driving a pickup truck pulled a homemade trailer onto the tracks and engaged the conductor in a verbal altercation, PCSO explained in a press release.
The suspect then unhitched the trailer on the tracks and drove off before returning and trying to enter the conductor’s car.
When PCSO deputies arrived, the suspect reversed towards them before eventually exiting the vehicle.
The suspect, who reportedly smelled strongly of alcohol, resisted arrest, grabbing a deputy in the process, PCSO says.
Deputies deployed a taser, but it was ineffective and the suspect fled on foot.
PCSO K9 Rone tracked the suspect down, but he “grabbed Rone’s collar and struck and kicked the dog multiple times, ignoring repeated warnings from deputies” before being arrested.
The suspect was identified as Josue Castaneda-Castro, 38, a Mexican national who is illegally present in the U.S.
“Further investigation revealed that Castaneda-Castro’s driver’s license had been revoked since January 2023. He was taken into custody and transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center. He is a Mexican national in the United States illegally and has been previously deported; due to his illegal immigration status, all charges were enhanced by one degree,” PCSO stated.
Castaneda-Castro has four DUI convictions on his record, Sheriff Grady Judd revealed during a press conference.
“This individual not only endangered the safety of a train operator and disrupted critical infrastructure, but he also violently resisted arrest and attacked one of our K9s. He is in our country illegally, his license was revoked, and now he’s facing serious charges. Our deputies did an outstanding job bringing this dangerous situation under control,” Sheriff Judd said.
Castaneda-Castro has been hit with a variety of felony charges, including interfering with a railroad track, interfering with a railroad train, trespassing, battery on a law enforcement officer, striking a police canine, unarmed burglary of an occupied conveyance, resisting an officer without violence, and resisting an officer with violence.
Additionally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer against the Mexican.
