Two teenagers were arrested for armed carjacking on July 18 after attempting to rob an undercover Hillsborough County detective at gunpoint, according to authorities.
The suspects detained were Daryl Cole, 17, and Christopher Samuels, 18.
According to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office report, on July 18, Special Investigations Division Gang Unit investigators talked with someone on social media who allegedly asked them to buy THC vape pens, marijuana, and Oxycodone.
An undercover transaction was planned, and detectives met the suspects at the Reflections Apartment Complex in Riverview.
Cole and Samuel approached the detective. An attempted narcotics sale swiftly turned into an armed robbery, according to HCSO police.
According to the complaint, both suspects displayed firearms, threatened the detective, pressed their weapons against his body, and demanded payment. After robbing him, they attempted to steal the vehicle but were unsuccessful, so they escaped on foot.
Cole was found and detained at his sister’s Tampa home. He had a past criminal history of 26 felony arrests, 10 misdemeanor arrests, and an active juvenile pickup order at the time of this event. His allegations included the following:
- Armed Carjacking
- Robbery with a Firearm
- Minor in Possession of a Firearm
- Armed Burglary of a Conveyance
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
Samuel was apprehended in Auburndale with the assistance of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Auburndale Police Department, and Florida Highway Patrol. He had previously been arrested for violence on a law enforcement officer and is currently being investigated for more felony charges. He is currently facing the following charges:
- Armed Carjacking
- Robbery with a Firearm
- Armed Burglary of a Conveyance
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
A third suspect, Ce’Dreon Davis, 18, was eventually identified as the getaway driver. Surveillance footage showed Davis picking up Cole and Samuels shortly after the robbery. Davis was arrested and charged as an accessory for the following offenses:
- Armed Carjacking
- Robbery with a Firearm
- Armed Burglary of a Conveyance
“In a split second, this incident could have ended in tragedy,”said Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister.“The fact that our detective walked away unharmed is nothing short of a miracle. Our deputies put their lives on the line every single day to protect this community from the violent individuals who threaten it, and we will never stop pursuing justice.”
This is an active inquiry. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Public Affairs Office will give any updates.
