Florida Woman Arrested for Hit-and-Run After Scraping Tree

Yanelly Guzman, a Florida woman, was arrested for a hit-and-run after accidentally scraping her car against a low-hanging tree branch while parking at T.J. Maxx on Christmas Eve. Following the incident, Guzman sought advice from her manager and others, which led her to contact the Cape Coral Police Department to file a report for damages. However, upon reporting the incident, an officer arrested her instead, claiming she should have left a note with her information on the tree. Although charges were later dropped due to insufficient evidence, Guzman faces significant legal and repair costs, leaving her emotionally distressed from the experience. She expressed feelings of unfair treatment and fear, stating the incident has negatively impacted her life. The police department maintained that the incident qualified as a hit-and-run under Florida law.