On September 1, the Lake Wales Police Department arrested Samuel Reyes, (DOB 12/12/1989), of Lake Wales, after an incident on Scenic Highway ended with several charges for Mr. Reyes.

It should be noted that this is an unedited and redacted report of facts by the LWPD. 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 Lake Wales Daily 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:

“The Defendant is on pretrial release in case #20240001697. There is probable cause to believe, based on this arrest, that the defendant has committed a new offense while on pretrial release – See F.S.903.0471.”

“On 09/01/2024, I responded to the above location in reference to a vehicle crash hit and run. Polk County dispatch advised that the caller disconnected and was unable to be contacted. Upon arrival, I met with the reporting person (REDACTED). (REDACTED) detailed that her vehicle was hit by (REDACTED) later identified as Samuel Reyes. (REDACTED) explained that she was unable to complete the call with dispatch due to Reyes stealing her phone. (REDACTED) explained that earlier in the night the two went out partying. (REDACTED) continued and detailed that Reyes was extremely intoxicated and became irate. (REDACTED) detailed she did not want to deal with Reyes so she departed from his home. (REDACTED) noticed her front passenger window was damaged by Reyes earlier and pulled over at Scenic Highway and Seminole Ave. (REDACTED) explained that Reyes pulled up next to her vehicle in his gray Ford F150 bearing tag (REDACTED). Reyes kept shouting to (REDACTED) asking where his phone was.(REDACTED) detailed Reyes got into his truck backed into her vehicle approximately two times. As (REDACTED) began to contact Law enforcement, without permission Reyes reached into her car, and grabbed her phone from the center console. (REDACTED) detailed Reyes sped off southbound on Scenic Highway.

I observed the damage caused by Reyes. The front driver side window was shattered; there were deep scratches alongside her driver side door and the rear driver side passenger door. The door handle was also damaged. (REDACTED) completed a Theft affidavit and burglary affidavit, and confirmed she wanted to prosecute Reyes. 

Officers responded to the scene and learned a possible location for Reyes was at the Tower view Motel. Officers Located Reyes in his vehicle and had him step out. Reyes was read his Miranda warnings by Officer Klingler. Reyes agreed to speak to Officer Klingler. During his interview Reyes was not truthful and denied taking (REDACTED) phone. At this point Reyes was under arrest and was being taken to Officer Klingler’s marked patrol vehicle to be placed in the backseat. During the walk over, Reyes began to stop and resisting Officer Klingler by not walking. As Officer Klingler finished searching Reyes, Reyes began tensing up and pushing up on Officer Klingler. Officer Klingler walked Reyes to the rear passenger side door and Reyes would not get in. Officer Klingler had to forcefully placed Reyes in the back seat. Reyes was not properly inside the vehicle and would not listen to lawful commands to sit properly inside. Officer Viera went over to the rear driver side door and tried to pull Reyes inside. Reyes continued to resisting and made no attempt to get inside the vehicle. Officer Viera was able to pull Reyes inside the vehicle. During the struggle, Reyes was kicking his feet at Officer Klingler and ended up kicking Officer Klingler under the chin. Reyes continued to resisting and fight officers in the back of the vehicle. Once Reyes was put inside, and the doors were closed, Reyes began to kick the rear passenger side window. Reyes also hit the window with his head causing damage to the door frame.

“ Reyes was screaming and cussing at officers the entire time he was in the backseat of the patrol vehicle. Officers had to secure (sic) Reye’s feet with rip hobble to keep him from causing more damage to the patrol vehicle. Once his feet were secured Reyes hit the window several times with his head. Once secured Reyes was transported to the Winter Haven Hospital to be medically cleared. Reyes was later transported to the Polk County Processing Center.”

According to the affidavit, for Samuel Reyes’s involvement in multiple charges, he is being charged with the following: Battery on a law-enforcement officer, Resisting an officer with violence, Criminal criminal mischief 200 or less, Petit theft, Burglary of an occupied Structure/ conveyance, Driving while licence permanently revoked, and Leaving scene of crash involving property damage.

In addition, Reyes was issued the following Criminal citations: Driving while licensed permanently revoked, and Leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage.