Polk deputies arrest man after train obstruction, foot chase, and K9 attack
Mulberry, FL – A 38-year-old man was arrested Saturday night after deputies say he blocked a CSX train with a trailer, fought law enforcement, and attacked a police K9 during a chaotic series of events in Polk County.
The incident began around 10:30 p.m. on August 30 at State Road 37 South and Railroad Avenue, where deputies responded to reports of a vehicle interfering with a train. According to investigators, Josue Castaneda-Castro drove a black Chevrolet pickup with a homemade trailer across the tracks, leaving the trailer stuck and obstructing the train’s path.
Officials say Castaneda-Castro confronted the train conductor, unhitched the trailer, and drove away—only to return minutes later, where he allegedly tried to enter the train car. When deputies arrived, he initially complied with orders to exit his vehicle but resisted further questioning, attempted to reenter his truck, and eventually fled on foot after an ineffective Taser deployment.
Deputy Sheriff Gann and K9 Rone tracked Castaneda-Castro to a wooded area. During the arrest, deputies said the suspect struck and kicked the police dog before being taken into custody.
Authorities later determined Castaneda-Castro’s driver’s license had been revoked since January 2023. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office confirmed he is a Mexican national who had previously been deported and was in the U.S. illegally. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer on him.
Sheriff Grady Judd praised his deputies, saying, “This individual not only endangered the safety of a train operator and disrupted critical infrastructure, but he also violently resisted arrest and attacked one of our K9s. Our deputies did an outstanding job bringing this dangerous situation under control.”
Castaneda-Castro faces multiple charges, all enhanced by one degree due to his immigration status.