RIVERVIEW, FL – A dramatic undercover drug operation in Riverview nearly turned deadly when two teens allegedly held a Hillsborough County detective at gunpoint.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), the incident occurred Friday during a social media-arranged drug deal led by a detective with the department’s Gang Unit. The meeting point was the Reflections Apartment Complex, where the operation took a dangerous turn.
As the undercover detective arrived, 17-year-old Daryl Cole and 18-year-old Christopher Samuels approached his vehicle. The teens allegedly pulled out firearms, pressed them against the detective’s body, and demanded cash in a robbery attempt caught on dash cam video.
“In a split second, this incident could have ended in tragedy,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister, emphasizing how fortunate the detective was to escape unharmed.
After the robbery, the suspects saw the detective exit the vehicle and call for backup. They then fled the scene on foot.
Daryl Cole, with 26 prior felony arrests, was later apprehended at his sister’s home in Tampa and charged with:
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
Christopher Samuels was arrested in Auburndale with help from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Auburndale Police, and Florida Highway Patrol. He faces the same charges as Cole, except for the minor in possession charge.
Investigators also identified 18-year-old Ce’Dreon Davis as the getaway driver. He was booked as an accessory to:
Armed carjacking
Robbery with a firearm
Armed burglary of a conveyance
Sheriff Chronister praised the quick response and teamwork that led to the arrests: “Our deputies risk their lives every day to protect this community, and we will not stop until violent offenders are off our streets.”
