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Polk County Sheriff’s Phone# 863-298-6200
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During the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 6, 2018, 27-year-old Darrell Coleman, Jr., who had a Polk County warrant for leaving the scene of a crash involving death in a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred in Haines City, turned himself in at the booking facility of the Polk County Jail in Bartow. He has been charged with one count leaving scene of crash involving death (F-1), one count DWLSR causing death (F-3), and one count trespassing (M-1).
The victim was 66-year-old Charles Hudson, Jr., a PCSO Citizens Assisted Patrol (CAP) volunteer, who lived and worked in Solivita. He was riding his bicycle westbound off of Kokomo Road when he was fatally struck by Coleman.
The U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Forces in Florida and Maryland were instrumental in locating Coleman. He has been booked into the Polk County Jail and will have a first appearance hearing tomorrow.
"Back in July, we quickly identified Darrell Coleman as the man who hit and killed Mr. Hudson, then left him to die without stopping to help. Detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest. He's known about the warrant this entire time, and continued to hide from us. Finally, with his arrest, justice has been served, and he will answer for his crimes." - Grady Judd, Sheriff