According to the Martin County Sheriff's Office, when a Palm City man was arrested over the weekend it was for the 34th time. Or so the sheriff's office thought.
Monday they revised the number of arrests to more than 40.
On Sunday, Martin County deputies said they caught Sammy Luciano, 39, driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen in Okeechobee County.
"Causing my deputies to be in a situation where they're in the dark, in the mud, looking for a suspect," said Martin County Sheriff William Synder. "We don't know if he's armed. It's very frustrating for all of us."
Just after 4 a.m., deputies say they spotted the vehicle with Luciano driving recklessly at a speed of 115 mph. When they tried to pull him over, they say he ran into the woods near I-95 and SR 714.
"I'm very proud of our deputies," said Sherif Snyder. "At risk to themselves in a very dark and challenging environment, they're able to go into the woods and come out with the suspect with no injuries to him."
He's been arrested dozens of times in the past for crimes like robbery, reckless driving, burglary and drug possession out of Martin, Indian River and Palm Beach Counties. Luciano spent about five years in prison.
"In a case like this with over 40 arrests, some of those serious arrests, he'd been in prison several times, it just makes our job all that more difficult," explained Sheriff Synder.
Luciano faces several charges this time, including driving under the influence, stealing a vehicle and resisting arrest.
He's out on $3,500 bail.
"He's out on the streets again, and you know what, we're going to have to deal with him another time," added Sheriff Snyder. "We will recommend that he get the maximum possible sentence for what he's done in this case."
