Crime & Safety
'I Was Smoking My Meth Pipe,' Driver Tells Police After Publix Crash
A man who wrecked a tractor-trailer truck at a Publix in Haines City thought a TV station was pranking him, police said.
HAINES CITY, FL — A driver destroyed two trucks and ripped an awning off a Publix grocery store when he crashed while high on methamphetamine Thursday afternoon, Haines City police said.
No one was hurt in the crash at the Publix store at 617 U.S. Highway 17-92 West in Haines City, police said in a Facebook post.
Michael Calvo, 51, of Cape Coral, was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest without violence, and possession of narcotics paraphernalia, according to the Haines City Police Department. Calvo is also wanted on a Michigan fugitive warrant.
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Authorities said Calvo's tractor-trailer truck tore an awning from the store and hit a parked pickup truck as he tried to manuever his trailer for a delivery at Publix. Both vehicles were destroyed in the crash.
The police report said Calvo refused for several minutes to get out of the 53-foot tractor-trailer because he thought he was being pranked by a television show. The officer asked Calvo if he had fallen asleep, been drinking or had a medical episode.
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"I was smoking my meth pipe," Calvo replied, according to the police report.
Officers said 1.6 ounces of methamphetamine was found in Calvo's possession.
He is being held without bond in the Polk County Jail.
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