After escaping supervision, a fugitive from Kentucky was thought to have been traveling to Plant City before he was found by deputies at a truck stop and arrested.
Willard Ray Hunt, 31, a CRIP gang member, has friends and family in Plant City, according to the Hillsborough County District II Street Crimes Unit.
Deputies identified and searched multiple residences in eastern Hillsborough County belonging to family members and acquaintances.
Through the investigation deputies learned that Hunt may have traveled to the area by riding with truck drivers. Deputies then went to the Flying J and TA truck stop at Country Road 579 and Interstate 4, and began interviewing truck drivers. They were able to located a truck driver who stated he saw an individual matching the description of Hunt walking through the parking lot asking for a cell phone.
Deputies conducted a search of the area, including searching inside tractor trailers.
Hunt was located in the cab of a truck and was arrested without incident.
His charges include manufacturing methamphetamine, fleeing and evading police, and persistent felony offender.
In 2004, Hunt was arrested in Hillsborough County on a Kentucky fugitive warrant and was transferred back to Kentucky.