Man arrested in road rage case

A 23-year-old Key West man was arrested Friday for blocking traffic on U.S. 1 and threatening a motorist forced to stop behind him.

Anniel Luis Torres was charged with assault and reckless driving.

The victim told Deputy Nicholas Galbo he was traveling southbound on Jan. 20, 2022 when he changed lanes as the motorist behind him, later identified as Torres, was tailgating so closely he could no longer see the vehicle’s headlights.

Torres passed the victim then changed lanes and slowed down. The victim changed lanes several times to avoid Torres, but Torres kept getting in front and hitting his brakes.

Finally, Torres braked and eventually stopped, forcing the victim and several other motorists to stop on Boca Chica Key.

Dash cam forage taken from the victim’s vehicle shows Torres jump out and charge the victim’s door. The victim and his passenger feared for their safety, so the victim displayed a firearm he carries as per his Florida concealed weapon permit. The victim told Torres to get away and Torres retreated.

Torres admitted to stopping traffic on U.S. 1 and being upset with the victim.

Torres was taken to jail.

Two arrested following search of residence

The Sheriffs’ Office Criminal Investigations Unit Detectives and Special Investigation Division Detectives conducted a search warrant and arrest warrant Friday morning on the 106000 block of the Overseas Highway in Key Largo.

Stephanie Marie Smith, 30, and Anthony Antwan Fuller, 32, were both charged with possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of over 20 grams of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.

Smith was also wanted regarding warrants for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, permitting an authorized person to operate a motor vehicle and child abuse. Those charges were filed as part of a case conducted by the Criminal Investigations Unit, which found Smith was supplying minors with tobacco and narcotics, teaching them how to package narcotics for sale, using marijuana around them and letting them drive her vehicle when they had no license.

Detectives searched the residence and found:

  • A small amount of cocaine
  • 2.5 ounces of marijuana
  • Marijuana edibles
  • Multiple pieces of drug paraphernalia that included a digital scale, pipes, grinders and baggies commonly used to package narcotics for sale.

Both Smith and Fuller were taken to jail.

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