Sardinas and Michelle Lynne Peterson , 43, allegedly tried to take a taxi to the Florida Keys but were turned away at the U.S. 1 checkpoint because they lacked the proper identification and paperwork to show residency or employment in the Keys. They were left on the side of the road and a Florida Highway Trooper was kind enough to give them a lift back to Florida City.
Once there, police say that couple spotted a young woman traveling to Key West at the grocery store around noon. Her vehicle had the hurricane reentry sticker and a Monroe County license plate that would clear her at the checkpoints. Police say that, while unarmed, Sardinas threatened her if she tried to use her cellphone and forced her to drive Sardinas and Peterson through the checkpoint. She dropped them off at a gas station and called her family.
Sardinas was later picked up. He has a long criminal record that includes charges of cocaine possession, grand theft and burglary. He can now add kidnapping and false imprisonment: All for a lift to the Keys.