Auburndale, Florida – On March 11, 2022 Auburndale Police Department arrested a Winter Haven man after he allegedly struck a vehicle and fled the scene, resisted arrest, fled law enforcement this time on foot and assaulted an officer. According to an APD affidavit Ryan Garcia, DOB: 04/23/2001, of Winter Haven was charged with Fleeing Or Attempting To Elude, Leave Scene Of Crash Involving Property Damage, Battery On A Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting With Violence, and Resisting Without Violence.
The following are two arrest affidavits. The first affidavit is from the Auburndale Police Department and the second is from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office who assisted in capturing Garcia (It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by A law enforcement agency. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. The Daily Ridge does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to their own understanding and conclusions) :
Auburndale Police Department Affidavit “On 03/11/2022, the defendant was the operator of vehicle (grey Honda Accord, Florida tag Z30 4PZ), involved in a hit-and-run traffic crash with property damage (no injuries) that occurred in the city limits of Auburndale; the crash was witnessed, and the witnesses followed the vehicle and operator until he was located by police. The defendant was followed by law enforcement, in emergency mode (lights and siren) in a marked patrol truck through the parking lot of two open businesses (Radiant Car Wash and TD Bank); the defendant refused to yield to the emergency vehicle, travelling through the parking lots and out to Walker Road, then East onto Highway 92, where his progress was stopped by other stopped traffic which had stopped for the audible lights and siren
from the emergency vehicle vehicle.
The defendant was ordered out of his vehicle; the defendant resisted, pulling away from and pushing away from me during my attempts to take him into custody; the defendant was able to successfully break free from my grasp and flee on foot to a nearby area, where he was detained by additional units after a perimeter was set up. The defendant was charged with resisting without violence for his acts of resisting at the traffic stop scene (U.S. Highway 92 and Jerico Road). The defendant’s Florida driver license was located in his wallet in the front passenger seat during a vehicle inventory post-arrest, and he was positively by identified by me via his license.”
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Affidavit: “On 03/11/2022, I responded to the area of 2120 Highway 92 West in Auburndale in reference to assisting Auburndale Police Department in locating a hit-and-run suspect that fled the scene on foot.
On arrival to the area, radio traffic advised the suspect was in the area of Tennessee Lane. Myself and multiple units pulled onto Tennessee Ln and were directed to the back yard of the houses on the east side of the roadway.
The suspect, a Black/Male wearing no shirt, blue shorts, and socks, was running through multiple fenced yards and attempting to jump fences trying to flee officers already on scene. I spotted the suspect behind one of the residences and ordered him to stop resisting. The suspect ignored this command and ran around a shed. He then
climbed over another chain link fence and ran behind another residence. I met the suspect behind the residence of 7 Tennessee Lane where I again ordered him to stop. The suspect looked at me and then he turned and grabbed the fence in an attempt to jump over it. It was at that time that I deployed my agency issued TASER.
Both prongs stuck into the Suspects back less than 12 inches apart. The suspect yelled in pain, but then he proceeded to jump over the fence and run towards the front yard. As the suspect crossed the street, I continued to pursue him on foot and changed out my TASER cartridge. I again demanded the suspect stop. The suspect continued to run and I deployed my second TASER cartridge. One prong struck the suspect in the back and the second prong missed. I continued to pursue the suspect on foot behind the residence located at 16 Tennessee Ln.
While in the back yard of this residence, the suspect turned towards me, planted his legs firmly and positioned his arms in such a way that led me to believe he intended to continue resisting. I attempted to tackle him to the ground, but instead I myself got was pushed to the ground and was temporarily pinned to the ground as the
suspect bear hugged me. During this time, I delivered approximately 3 closed fist punches to the left side of his stomach. Multiple deputies and officers swarmed the suspect and pulled him off of me. As we attempted to handcuff him, he continued to pull away his arms and resist restraints despite being advised multiple times to stop resisting.
The Suspect was later identified by Florida Driver License and DAVID as Ryan Demetrius Garcia.
It should be noted, I was wearing my agency issued Polk County Sheriff’s Office uniform complete with Polk County Sheriff’s Office Patches on each sleeve and a 5-point star over the left breast pocket, clearly identifying me as a law enforcement officer.
Garcia’s action of battery to my person was unlawful, intentional, and against my will. I was not injured as a result of the incident.
Garcia was read Miranda Warnings by Auburndale Officer Rieger (A348). Post Miranda Warnings, Garcia was asked why he ran from us and resisted lawful commands. Garcia advised “I don’t know.” He advised he got caught up in the “heat of the moment.” When asked why he chose to grab my person his response was “my bad,
I didn’t mean to.” Garcia denied having taken any illegal narcotics. Garcia was already under arrest for the Auburndale Police Department hit-and-run crash (Case#596). Based on the investigation, Garcia was additionally charged with Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting w/ Violence, and Resisting w/o Violence.”
