Alvaro Tinoco {BSO}
By Ryan Yousefi
A man sought by authorities for fleeing the scene after an officer discovered him asleep at a stoplight with drug paraphernalia on his lap has voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement.
On September 4, an officer from the Coconut Creek Police Department was on a routine patrol near the intersection of Lyons Road and Sawgrass Expressway southbound when, at a stoplight, he encountered a vehicle that failed to accelerate when the traffic light turned green, disrupting other cars, including himself.
According to the officer, he and many other vehicles were forced to change lanes to maneuver around the stalled car, and by the time the officer pulled alongside the stopped vehicle, the light had turned red again.
Before approaching the vehicle, the officer, with the aid of law enforcement databases, identified the driver and registered owner of the car as Alvaro Tinoco, 40, of Plantation.
Upon his approach to the vehicle – still parked at an intersection that continued to cycle through multiple green lights – the officer encountered Tinoco, who appeared to be asleep behind the wheel, but upon a knock on the window, woke up and began fumbling with a small cylindrical object, suspected to be drug paraphernalia.
According to the report, the Tinoco had a suspended license due to prior drug-related charges, including arrests for driving with a suspended license while in possession of cocaine in both April and May of this year.
Tinoco reportedly accelerated and left the scene, and the officer began to pursue him with activated lights and sirens as the pair approached Wiles Road.
According to records, Tinoco initially showed signs of yielding to the traffic stop but quickly changed his mind and continued to flee. The pursuit continued, with Tinoco’s vehicle making erratic turns and reaching up to 60 mph speeds.
Tinoco eventually made a right-hand turn onto Sample Road, eluding the pursuing officer. This prompted the officer to deactivate the lights and sirens, and Tinoco disappeared from view.
It was later revealed during the investigation that Tinoco has six previous incidents involving driving with a suspended license.
A warrant for his arrest was issued, and Tinoco voluntarily turned himself in at the Broward County Courthouse on September 13.
He was subsequently taken into custody and transported to the Broward County Main Jail, where he was later released after posting a $250 bond.
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