A traffic encounter in Lake Wales escalated into a violent confrontation, resulting in injuries to a police officer and his K9 partner. According to WFLA, Marlon Arrindell, 36, was detained after he attempted to flee a traffic stop for speeding and subsequently engaged in a struggle with the intercepting officer. The ordeal began just before 8 a.m. on U.S. Highway 27, where the officer, whose name has not been released, tried to carry out a traffic stop on Arrindell for driving substantially over the speed limit.
The incident took a dangerous turn at a Chevron gas station, located at 900 W. Highway 60, where Arrindell initially halted. As reported by FOX 13 News, when the police officer made an attempt to arrest Arrindell, a conflict ensued, and the officer's K9 partner, Bolo, was released to assist. However, Arrindell managed to get back into his vehicle and accelerate, dragging both the officer and the K9 through the parking lot. Other officers found Arrindell about a mile west on East Bay Boulevard, where he attempted to escape on foot.
The pursuit of Arrindell ended when he injured himself while trying to scale a high barbed wire fence. The officer and K9 Bolo were treated for injuries they suffered during the encounter. In a statement obtained by the Lake Wales Daily, the Lake Wales Police Department disclosed that Arrindell is now facing charges including fleeing to elude, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, injuring a police canine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in addition to driving with a suspended license.
Authorities said an officer and a K9 both received medical treatment for injuries following the incident. No further details on their conditions have been released. Officials confirmed that the case resulted in multiple charges against the suspect.
