The Lake Wales Police arrested Marquis Futch, DOB 12/3/1995, of Lake Wales and charged him with DUI Involving Property Damage, Fleeing To Elude Law Enforcement, Driving While License Suspended Or Revoked. The incident occurred on October 18 around 3:54am.
The following is a redacted, but unedited portion of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit (It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by the Lake Wales Police Department. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. The Lake Wales Daily does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to their own understanding and conclusions. A suspect is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.) :
“On 10/18/2024, myself and Officer Robertson responded to 28 W Seminole in reference to a disturbance. Before arriving, dispatch informed me that the suspect involved in the disturbance had been drinking alcohol and is currently refusing to give REDACTED, the reporting person her car keys back.
REDACTED advised to dispatch that the suspect, Marquis Futch will pull off in the vehicle once he sees Law Enforcement. As I arrived on scene, I saw REDACTED’s vehicle which is a black in color Saturn sitting in front of the residence. I parked my marked Lake Wales Police Department patrol vehicle directly in front of the Saturn and was able to see Futch sitting in the driver’s seat.
Once I exited my marked Lake Wales Police Department patrol vehicle, I began walking towards Futch while he was in the Saturn. Once Futch saw me walking towards him, he put the vehicle in drive and began driving around my patrol vehicle. I flashed my flash light at him (and) gave him the command to stop. Futch did not cooperate and began driving west on Seminole Avenue at a very high rate of speed.
Officer Robertson was able to get behind Futch and activated his emergency lights on his marked Lake Wales Police Department patrol vehicle. Futch failed to stop for Law Enforcement and turned south on Martin Luther King Blvd at a high rate of speed. Futch then began approaching the intersection of Martin Luther King Blvd and Central Avenue. While coming up to the intersection, Futch lost control of the vehicle and proceeded to collide with two traffic lights and also a parked vehicle. The Saturn being driven by Futch came to a final rest in between two light poles flipped over on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
After Futch crashed the vehicle, I got out of my marked Lake Wales Police Department patrol vehicle and drew my agency issued handgun and gave Futch commands to put his hands up. Futch refused to keep his hands up and began reaching around the vehicle. Futch was not cooperating with Law Enforcement commands and kept trying to grab his cell phone and cigarette.
The Lake Wales Fire Department arrived on scene and assisted with getting Futch out of the vehicle by smashing a sun roof window. Futch crawled out and then began receiving medical treatment by Lake Wales Fire Department and also Polk County EMS.
While on scene Willie Moore, stated he was outside of his residence located at 203 Park Avenue when he saw the black Saturn drive south on Dr Martin Luther King Blvd. Moore stated he also saw Law Enforcement behind him with emergency lights on. Moore stated after seeing the black Saturn, he then heard Futch crash.
Futch was transported to the Lake Wales Advent Health Hospital and Polk County Sheriff Deputy Register (#8725), arrived at the hospital and began evaluating Futch for possibly driving while intoxicated. While on scene, I learned that Futch’s license was revoked on 07/21/2017.
While Law Enforcement was interviewing Futch at the hospital, post Miranda Futch stated he knew Law Enforcement was trying to stop him. Futch stated he saw me park my Marked Lake Wales Police Department patrol vehicle in front of him but still continued to flee from Law Enforcement. Futch also admitted to seeing Officer Robertson behind him with his emergency lights activated.
Due to Futch failing to stop for Law Enforcement with activated emergency lights, driving while license suspended, and failing to listen to Law Enforcement commands, he is being arrested for Fleeing to Elude Law Enforcement, driving while license suspended and resisting an Officer without violence.”
A video post to Lake Wales, News, Updates & Reviews by Sasha Buerge shows more of the crash scene: Click Here
