Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
A Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office detective is recovering after a harrowing armed robbery during an undercover operation in Riverview, Fla.
The incident occurred on July 18, 2025, when detectives from the agencys Special Investigations Division Gang Unit arranged a narcotics transaction with individuals operating a social media account that had offered to sell THC vape pens, marijuana, and Oxycodone. The meeting point was set at the Reflections Apartment Complex in Riverview.
When the undercover detective arrived, two suspects — identified as a 17-year-old boy and 18-year-old Christopher Samuels — approached. What started as a drug deal quickly escalated when both suspects brandished firearms, threatened the detective, and pressed their guns against his body while demanding cash. After robbing the detective, they attempted to steal his vehicle but ultimately fled on foot when unsuccessful…