News and Investigations

On Saturday, April 7, 2018, PCSO Traffic deputies arrested 23-year-old Mario Lopez-Morales of 187 Bradbury Road in Haines City, and charged him with 1 count Leaving Scene of Crash with Serious Bodily Injury (F-2), 1 count Leaving Scene of Crash with Property Damage (M-1), and 1 count Tampering with Evidence (F-3), after investigation revealed he struck 17-year-old Adam Schumacher, who was jogging along Crest Drive in Haines City, and a parked van before fleeing the scene on April 3, 2018.

According to the affidavit, around 8:20 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3^rd, PCSO deputies responded to the 2600 block of Crest Drive in Haines City, where Adam Schumacher was found seriously injured on the ground. He was transported to Osceola Medical Center with skull and facial fractures, and a sprained ankle. Adam was jogging on Crest Drive when he was struck by what witnesses described as a dark-colored 1997-2004 model Ford F-150 pickup truck, that then drove through a residential front yard and struck a parked van before fleeing the scene. PCSO deputies went door-to-door, and PCSO released details about the crash along with the Heartland Crime Stoppers tipline to the media and on social media, seeking witnesses and/or information about the crash.

On April 5^th and 6^th, 2018, Heartland Crime Stoppers received anonymous tips that were passed along to PCSO, that led deputies to an address on Slocumb Road in Haines City, and identified a possible suspect as Mario Lopez, who drives a black 1997 Ford F-150. 

Deputies responded to Slocumb Road in Haines City and searched the property. During the search, deputies located a black 1997 Ford F-150 pickup truck that was deliberately concealed from view by land or air behind two pieces of a wooden privacy fence, some carpet padding, and a metal sign. Deputies obtained a search warrant for the truck and transported it to PCSO for further inspection. During an examination of the truck, visible damage to the truck and pieces of the truck found left behind at the scene matched. The homeowner at Slocumb Road told deputies that a friend of his asked if he could park his brother Mario's truck there, and that Mario had "hit a pole." Mario then flew to Las Vegas for an already-scheduled meeting for work.  

During subsequent interviews with family and friends of Mario Lopez-Morales, deputies learned that Mario was seen at a residence near Crest Drive on April 3rd, crying and upset after arguing with his wife, before driving off in his black Ford F-150.

After the truck was seized by deputies on April 6^th, they interviewed Mario's wife, who told them she had spoken to Mario on his cell phone while he was in Las Vegas. She told deputies that Mario admitted to her that he had been involved in a crash where he struck a person, and that he was going to turn himself in. Deputies then called Mario on his cell phone, and during the conversation he confessed to being in the area during the evening in question to look for his wife, with whom he had been arguing since the previous day. He said when he left the area, he was fumbling with his phone while driving, trying to call his wife, when he struck a person, then got scared and left the scene. He drove to a friend's house, left the truck behind, and asked the friend to drive him home. He told deputies he was making arrangements to fly home and turn himself in.

Deputies met Mario at the Orlando Airport on Saturday, April 7^th, where he agreed to accompany them to the Northeast District Command in Davenport to be interviewed. He repeated his confession, and afterwards was transported and booked into the Polk County Jail. He had a first appearance hearing on Sunday, April 8, 2018, where a judge established the following bond amounts:

• Leaving the scene with serious bodily injury (F-2) - $10,000
• Tampering with evidence (F-3) - $2,000
• Leaving the scene with property damage (M-3) - $1,000

He remains in the Polk County Jail.

"Every time we work a hit-and-run crash, we tell the community that we need their help - this is often the only way we solve crashes where suspects flee the scene. Thank you to the anonymous tipsters who led us to this suspect. We are grateful that Adam will make a full recovery, and that this suspect will be held accountable for hitting and leaving Adam for dead." - Grady Judd, Sheriff

Mario is a Mexican national, in the country as a resident alien. He has a valid driver's license.