An electronic fingerprint tool helped lead deputies to two people wanted on warrants during separate traffic stops over the weekend.According to sheriff’s reports:
While investigating a robbery, deputies stopped a suspicious vehicle with four people inside in the 2600 block of 55th Terrace Southwest in Golden Gate around 11 a.m. on Friday.
When deputies asked for their identification, one of the rear-seat passengers gave deputies a name and a date of birth, but said he did not have identification. A check of the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles computer database could not find any information for anyone with that name and date of birth.
Deputies then used their Rapid ID portable fingerprint device, which positively identified the passenger as 17-year-old Gage Pate. Within minutes, Pate’s criminal history was also on display on a deputy’s in-car computer.
It showed Pate had four active warrants for his arrest, including battery on a law enforcement officer, violation of probation and absconding supervision.
Further investigation by deputies revealed Pate had a Xanax “bar,” or pill, in one of his pockets that he did not have a prescription for.
Pate, who arrest reports said is homeless, was arrested on the warrants. He was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and giving false information to law enforcement.
Rapid ID helped deputies make another arrest later that afternoon.
Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a Ford sport utility vehicle for illegal window tint at the 99 mile marker of Interstate 75 around 5 p.m. Neither the driver nor the passenger had identification.
Deputies utilized their Rapid ID device, which identified the passenger as Patricio Diaz, 44, of Hialeah. It also showed Diaz had an active warrant out of Sarasota for larceny and fraudulent use of a personal identification system.
Deputies received Diaz’s permission to search him. They found a fraudulent driver’s license with Diaz’s picture and another man’s name on it inside his wallet, along with an American Express card with somebody else’s name on it. They also found a diamond ring and a diamond pendant and the department store receipt in his pants pockets.
A search of the SUV turned up 16 Visa cards wrapped in a paper towel under the dashboard and a receipt for three chain saws which were charged using the name that was on the American Express card that deputies found in Diaz’s wallet.
Diaz was arrested on the warrants. He was also charged with possession of fraudulent identification and possession of a counterfeit driver’s license.
CCSO deputies have been using Rapid ID since August as part of a pilot program through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The device electronically scans two fingerprint images which are then sent to FDLE and entered into a statewide fingerprint database. If there’s a match, that person’s criminal history and any warrants he or she may have will be delivered electronically within 45 seconds to a minute. The statewide database covers anybody who has been arrested and fingerprinted in Florida.
FDLE is supplying the devices at no cost to CCSO through a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Gage Pate
Patricio Diaz
