An HCSO Detective is lucky to be alive after being robbed at gun point during an undercover operation.
On July 18, 2025, Detectives with the Special Investigations Division Gang Unit communicated with a social media account. The account holder solicited the Detectives for the purchase of THC vape pens, marijuana, and Oxycodone. An undercover transaction was arranged, and detectives met the suspects at the Reflections Apartment Complex in Riverview.
Two individuals, later identified as Daryl Cole, 17 and Christopher Samuels, 18, approached the detective. What began as an attempt to sell narcotics quickly escalated into an armed robbery. Both suspects brandished firearms, threatened the detective, pressed the weapons against the detective's body, and demanded his cash. After robbing him, they tried to steal the vehicle, but fled on foot when their attempt was unsuccessful.
Cole was located and arrested at his sister's residence in Tampa. He has a prior criminal history including 26 prior felony arrests, 10 misdemeanor arrests and an active juvenile pickup order at the time of this incident. His charges for this crime include:
- 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
Samuels was arrested in Auburndale, FL, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Auburndale Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. He has prior arrests for battery on a law enforcement officer and is currently a suspect in other felony cases. He's is now facing the following charges in this incident:
- 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 later 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 to 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 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 investigation. Any updates will be provided by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Public Affairs Office.
