DAVENPORT, Fla. – A trip to a local car wash ended in felony charges for a Celebration man on Tuesday, marking his 56th birthday with a trip to jail rather than a party.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Jose Alfredo Velez on the afternoon of January 13 following reports of a disturbance at a business in Davenport.
Law enforcement arrived at the scene around 2:30 p.m. to speak with employees. Witnesses told deputies that Velez had been on the property arguing with other customers. When staff members intervened and asked Velez to leave due to the complaints, he reportedly refused to leave and began arguing with the workers instead.
READ: Smoothie-Spiking Oregon Dad Settles $2.4M Civil Suit From Prison Cell
Two deputies approached Velez to investigate the trespassing complaint. According to the arrest report, Velez refused to identify himself, claiming he was not required to do so. Deputies informed him that failure to identify himself during a lawful investigation was a violation, but he continued to refuse.
The situation escalated when deputies attempted to place Velez under arrest. The Sheriff’s Office reports that Velez became uncooperative and physically resisted. During the struggle, Velez allegedly attempted to grab a Taser from one of the deputies.
Officers eventually secured Velez in the back of a patrol car. Upon identifying him, they realized the incident was taking place on his birthday.
READ: ‘A Flurry Of Problems’: Rare Snow Threatens Florida Panhandle And Southeast This Weekend
Velez was booked on multiple charges, including resisting an officer with violence, depriving an officer of means of protection, trespassing, and resisting without violence. His vehicle was towed from the scene.
Authorities noted that Velez has a prior criminal history that includes charges of child abuse and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
