Deputies: Street gang member held for deportation

By Naples Daily News staff report
Posted October 4, 2009 at 7:20 p.m.

Colllier County sheriff’s deputies on Friday arrested a Fort Myers man they say has a history of gang-related activity and is in the country illegally.

Othon Agustin Tamariz, 18, 245 Mango Ave., No. 1, Fort Myers, was arrested by deputies at the intersection of Broward Street and U.S. 41. He is being held for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and was charged with obstruction of justice after a deputy reported that Tamariz provided a false name during a traffic stop.

Tamariz, who was the front-seat passenger in a stopped car, told the deputy his name was Alex Lopez, but a fingerprint scan returned a different identity, according to the arrest report. Tamariz had tattoos on his knuckles that indicated involvement with a street gang, the report says.

Tamariz eventually admitted to providing a false name, the report states, and told deputies he is on county probation in Lee County and did not want to be deported. Because of his documentation as a criminal street gang member, the report states, an immigration detainer was placed on Tamariz that will prevent him from bonding out of jail.

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