Auburndale, FL — An 18-year-old from Auburndale, Christopher Samuels, faces serious charges after allegedly robbing an undercover Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detective at gunpoint during a botched drug deal on July 18, 2025.
The incident, which unfolded at the Reflections Apartment Complex in Riverview, also involved a second suspect, 17-year-old Daryl Cole, and a getaway driver, 18-year-old Ce’Dreon Davis.
According to the HCSO press release, detectives from the Special Investigations Division Gang Unit arranged an undercover transaction after communicating with an individual on social media about purchasing THC vape pens, marijuana, and Oxycodone. Samuels and Cole allegedly approached the detective, brandished firearms, pressed the weapons against the detective’s body, and demanded cash. After stealing the money, the pair attempted to take the detective’s vehicle but fled on foot when the attempt failed.
Samuels, who has prior arrests for battery on a law enforcement officer and is a suspect in other felony cases, was apprehended in Auburndale with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Auburndale Police Department, and Florida Highway Patrol. The arrest affidavit details how deputies located a black 2020 Ford F-150, believed to be involved in the robbery, at a residence on Tullamore Lane in Auburndale. After a lengthy standoff, during which Samuels’ father, Sidney Samuels, was arrested for resisting an officer without violence, Christopher Samuels was taken into custody.
Samuels faces charges of armed carjacking, robbery with a firearm, armed burglary of a conveyance, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Cole, who has an extensive criminal history with 26 prior felony arrests and 10 misdemeanor arrests, faces similar charges, along with a charge for minor in possession of a firearm. Davis, identified via surveillance footage as the getaway driver, was arrested and charged as an accessory to the same offenses.
Sheriff Chad Chronister called the incident a near-tragedy, stating, “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.”
The investigation remains active, with HCSO promising updates as they become available. Samuels’ arrest in Auburndale underscores the collaborative efforts of local law enforcement in apprehending suspects involved in violent crimes across county lines.
Editor’s Note: This article is based on information from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office press release and the arrest affidavit for Christopher Samuels.
