What started as a dumb joke could now end in jail time for the owner of Florida’s “Booty Patrol” pickup
December 7, 2023 at 13:09
Early last month, we reported on a pickup truck that had been stopped by police in Florida for closely resembling a Customs and Border Patrol vehicle but was instead labeled as a ‘Booty Patrol’ truck. At the time, the owner was cited for using prohibited lights. Later in the month, the plot thickened, and police filed more serious charges against the driver.
Police say they reviewed footage from the traffic stop that led to the initial citation, and were only further convinced it the truck was too similar to a legitimate Border Patrol truck. The owner, identified as Gabriel Luviano-Renteria, also has a TikTok account, the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office said, which provided it with more evidence against him.
“He uses this vehicle for publicity and followers and for fame,” the arrest report, first seen by Click Orlando, reads. “Watching the videos, I saw he has hashtags listed for ‘#immigration, #ice’ and talks about how his truck is illegal.”
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More: Florida’s Elusive “Booty Patrol” Truck Finally Gets Pulled Over By Real Cops
Videos posted by other accounts on TikTok show that, in addition to featuring a Border Patrol-inspired livery, and emergency lights, the truck also has a siren. As a result of the additional evidence, the sheriff’s office filed further charges against Luviano-Renteria on November 21.
He is accused of impersonating law enforcement and obstructing police. According to the Florida Legislature, that could be a third degree felony, and Luviano-Renteria may face up to five years in prison if he is found guilty.
The penalty could be worse if he used the truck to actually pull anyone over. The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging people to come forward if that has happened to them. The office added that it wants to raise awareness of the truck to ensure that no one is fooled by it. They said that it has been spotted in several counties.
@jefflonghurst Booty Patrol needs supplies too!