Violent Gang Task Force Arrests Winter Haven Man Charged With Waverly Area Shooting

Daquan Carey, a 23-year-old Winter Haven man who is a "documented gang member," according to the Polk County Violent Gang Investigative Task Force, was arrested in Winter Haven and charged with numerous felonies related to a drive-by shooting in the Waverly area of Lake Wales.

The incident happened on 3rd Street in Waverly at about 3:20 am on November 22, according to a statement from the Polk County Sheriff's office.

At that scene detectives met with two victims who reported that several shots had been fired at them while they were sitting parked in their vehicle,

They reported that a dark-colored SUV had slowly approached from the east and turned onto Hodge Street when the victims heard the gunfire and fled the area. Neither of them were injured but the vehicle they were in was struck by at least one round. Investigators located several shell casings around the residence where the victims' vehicle was parked, but no evidence that other homes or vehicles had been hit.

During the investigation, Daquan Carey was identified as the drive-by shooting suspect. Detectives learned he is a documented gang member who has an active felony warrant for failure to appear, with original charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of narcotics, and fleeing to elude. According to investigators, his criminal history dates back to 2014 and includes charges in 20 previous felonies and four prior felony convictions, along with 19 previous misdemeanors. Detectives obtained warrants charging his with attempted first degree murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

On December 6 detectives located Carey at the Della Vita apartment complex in Winter Haven, where they found him in the parking lot behind the wheel of a Toyota Camry. As deputies attempted to arrest him he physically fought with them in an attempt to flee. A search after hjis arrest revealed that he had a loaded Ruger handgun, narcotics, and marijuana in his pockets.

Carey was booked into the Polk County Jail with 15 new charges, including

• Attempted first degree murder (FL)

• Shooting into an occupied vehicle (F2)

• 2 counts Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (F2)

• Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon (F2)

• Carrying a concealed firearm (F3)

• Battery on a law enforcement officer (F3)

• Resisting arrest with violence (F3)

• Resisting arrest while armed (F3)

• Possession of oxycodone (F3)

• Possession of prescription drugs without a prescription (M2)

• Resisting arrest without violence (M1)

• Possession of marijuana (M1)

• Possession of drug paraphernalia (M1)

• Failure to appear warrant (F3)

"This dangerous convicted felon and documented gang member has demonstrated that he has no regard for human life, and no respect for the law or law enforcement," Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. "He's proven that he will shoot anyone, anywhere, and fight with law enforcement if approached. We hope he remains locked up in prison for a long, long time."