Deputies say a man in the United States illegally from Turkey led Polk County deputies on a brief chase that ended in a place they did not expect: inside the drywall of a Davenport motel bathroom. According to officials, the suspect ignored repeated commands, forcing deputies to deploy a chemical agent before they finally spotted him wedged behind insulation. The episode started after deputies tried to pull over a white Corvette for erratic driving on I‑4 and then trailed the car into a motel parking lot in northeast Polk County.
From I‑4 Corvette Stop To A Hole In The Wall
According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the incident unfolded on Feb. 3 when a deputy lit up emergency equipment to stop a white Corvette heading east on I‑4. The driver appeared to comply at first, pulling over, but then hit the gas as the deputy approached the car. Deputies later found the Corvette parked at the Home Suites motel in Davenport. Construction workers there pointed them toward a nearby room at the Stayable Suites, saying a man had sprinted inside and told a contractor he was “running from the police.” Investigators say deputies cut into the wall near the bathroom, used a mirror to find the suspect tucked behind the insulation, then introduced a chemical agent that persuaded him to crawl out of his hiding spot.
Charges, ICE Detainer And The Sheriff’s Take
Polk County officials identify the suspect as 33‑year‑old Ege Bilgin. They say he was booked on two counts of resisting arrest without violence, one count of burglary of an occupied dwelling, fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer, no valid driver’s license, and giving a false name to law enforcement. According to the sheriff’s office, each of those counts was enhanced by one degree because Bilgin is in the country illegally, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer on him at the Polk County Jail. “While it’s true this suspect would have been taken into custody for his expired license had he simply pulled over when stopped, he would have only been charged with the one traffic misdemeanor and his removal order would have been served,” Sheriff Grady Judd said in the agency’s release, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Local Outlets Jump On The Wall‑Hide Arrest
The bizarre hiding spot and the ICE detainer quickly drew local media attention. FOX 13 reported on the pursuit, the discovery of Bilgin inside the motel wall, and ICE’s confirmation of the detainer, while West Orlando News ran the sheriff’s account on March 8. Both outlets follow the same timeline laid out by the sheriff’s office, helping push the agency’s version of events to a wider audience.
What Happens Next
The criminal case is expected to move forward in Polk County court. Because ICE has lodged a detainer and officials say Bilgin has a pending removal order, immigration authorities can step in to take custody after the local case runs its course, according to the sheriff’s release and subsequent coverage. Court records and future filings will show whether prosecutors stick with the enhanced felony counts and when hearings are set. Earlier local stories walked through the charges and detention status in the days after the arrest, including a February recap; see faces felonies and deportation for a summary that tracks closely with the sheriff’s initial release.
Authorities have asked witnesses and anyone with additional information to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The agency has not issued any public updates beyond its February release. The next round of public records to watch will be Polk County court filings and detention logs, which will show any changes in scheduling or Bilgin’s custody status.
