Man Punches Deputy After He Crashes Into Orange Tree: Police

FORT MEADE, FL — A 36-year-old Fort Meade man is in trouble with the law after he crashed his pickup truck into a tree on Tuesday afternoon and hit a police officer, a Polk County Sheriff's Office news release said.

Police say 36-year-old Bryan Waddell drove his Ford F-150 into an orange tree at the intersection of Lake Hendry Road and Garfield Road in Fort Mead, and showed signs of intoxication when he spoke to police officers investigating the crash.

His words were slurred, his eyes were bloodshot, and he smelled like alcohol, investigators said.

After an officer informed him that he was being investigated for a DUI, he told police that he was going home and walked away. As he began to walk away from the area, the deputies took him by the arm.

According to investigators, Waddell immediately tensed up, began to pull away, broke free and then intentionally hit an officer in the face causing a contusion to the right eye, redness and swelling to the right side of the face. Deputies gained control of Waddell and arrested him.

“We are fortunate Mr. Waddell only damaged his truck and an orange tree because of his intoxication while driving," Sheriff Grady Judd said in a news release. "He continues to demonstrate a flagrant disregard for our laws and for the safety of others. We will work hard to make sure he is held accountable for his drunk driving, violence against a law enforcement officer and repeated violation of the law.”

The Polk County Sheriff's Office said he faces the following charges:

• DUI with property damage
• DUI
• Driving while license suspended or revoked
• Refusal to submit a lawful breath test
• Battery on a law enforcement officer
• Resisting officer with violence

Waddell and the officer were both treated and released from Bartow Regional Medical Center.

Waddell refused a breath test at the Polk County Jail, police said.