Lake Wales, FL – A routine traffic complaint escalated into a dangerous situation on February 25, 2025, when officers responded to a DUI call on Burns Ave. The suspect, later identified as Audencio Castillo, was reported driving erratically, weaving through lanes, striking curbs, and forcing oncoming vehicles to honk to avoid a collision. A concerned citizen followed Castillo’s gray pickup truck into the Sunset Neighborhood and witnessed him park at home on Sunset Circle, stumble out of his vehicle with a beer can in hand, and fire a gunshot before police arrived. Castillo is charged with DUI (3rd offense in 10 years), Discharge A Firearm In Public, Use Of A Firearm Under The Influence Of Alcohol & Threatening A Law Enforcement Official.
Here is an excerpt of the 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)
“On February 25, 2025, at approximately 1936 hours I responded to a traffic complaint call on Burns Ave. in Lakes Wales, that was later reclassified to a DUI. On my way to the scene, dispatch advised the driver is now shooting. I responded with lights and siren the rest of the way there. Upon arrival, Mr. Castillo had been cuffed by other responding officers. I placed Mr. Castillo in my patrol vehicle. Mr. Castillo refused to comply with orders. Officer Blaser walked around the right side of my vehicle to assist Mr. Castillo into my vehicle at which point he threatened to hurt officer Blaser by stating he would beat the shit out of him.
I then met with the reportee, later identified as REDACTED. REDACTED advised she witnessed the defendant’s gray pickup truck traveling approximately 20 miles an hour in a 40 MPH zone. REDACTED noticed him weaving in and out of his lane. She also witnessed the vehicle hit a few curbs and ran over the median.
Vehicles coming in the opposite direction had to honk the horn to avoid getting hit by the defendant’s pickup truck. REDACTED considered the reckless driving alarming and decided to dial 911 to stop the truck before it hurt someone. REDACTED followed the pickup truck into the Sunset Neighborhood. The pickup drove into and parked in the driveway of REDACTED Sunset Circle in Lake Wales. REDACTED witnessed the driver, later identified as Audencio Castillo, got out of the pickup truck, stumbling with a beer can in bis hand. REDACTED explained that as she was parked on the street, in front of the address mentioned above, she heard a gunshot and soon after, LWPD arrived on scene.
I then checked the truck and area surrounding the defendant’s truck for evidence. I noticed a spent shell casing chambered in 9mm on the driveway by the left, rear wheel of the truck. I also noticed an unspent 9mm round on the driveway by the left rear passenger door. There were two other rounds on the floor of the driver’s cabin. 1 also found an unloaded, light gray 9mm Kimber brand pistol with wooden handles on the driver’s seat. There was also a large can of Modelo brand beer on the top of the truck bed just behind the driver’s seat of the pickup truck, the beer can was mostly empty, still cold to the touch, had an odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from it, and whea poured out was a yellow color consistent of urine, which had an odor of alcoholic beverage.
I then interviewed the reportee/witness, REDACTED. REDACTED reiterated everything she had related to dispatch. REDACTED gave us a written statement. REDACTED, reiterated that she has been following the vehicle since Burns Ave. REDACTED explained that the driver got out of the driver’s seat, was stumbling, and had a beer can in his hand. REDACTED also explained that immediately after she heard a gunshot and she saw the driver get back into the pickup truck’s driver seat before Police arrived.
I was informed by the initial responding officers on scene that Castillo was in the driver’s seat of the vehicle when they located him. His vehicle keys were later found in his right pocket. Defendant’s vehicle is equipped with push start system.
After securing Castillo, a Kimber Brand 9mm pistol was discovered on the seat where defendant had been sitting.
As I spoke with Castillo, I noted he had relaxed muscles in his face, he was stumbling and had a drunk like walk, his face was flush, he bad slurred speech, glassy bloodshot eyes, droopy eyellds, and he had a very strong odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath.
Based on Castillo being in actual physical control of the vehicle upon contact with law enforcement, and based on the observations of my Field Training Officer’s training and experience, there is probable cause to charge Castillo with DUI.
Based on the location of the firearm and the spent shell casing immediately where REDACTED said Castillo was standing, there is sufficient evidence to charge Castillo with discharging a firearm in public.
Based on Castillo’s apparent intoxication from alcohol, and the location of the firearm when he came into contact with law enforcement, there is sufficient evidence to charge Castillo with use of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol.
Based on Castillo’s threats to cause harm to Ofc. Blaser while in the course of his duties, there is sufficient evidence to charge Castillo with threatening a law enforcement officer.
Audencio Castillo is being charged with DUI, 3rd offense greater than 10 years (316.193(2)(B)2). Castillo has two other DUI convictions, case# 532017CT007618A0000WT and case# 532012CT000894A000BA.
The use of a firearm while under the influence of Alcohol (790.151), Discharging a Firearm in public. (790.15(1)), and Threatening a Law Enforcement Officer (836.12). Issued a DUI citation AKWG6GE.
I attempted to interview Castillo however he refused to speak to us after I read his Miranda Rights.
Castillo was transported to the Polk County Processing Center for processing.
EVIDENCE:
A Kimber – Micro9, 9mm Firearm, one spent casing and three rounds have been submitted to evidence.
During the incident, I was wearing my agency-issued Class B uniform, which is a dark blue polyester shirt and dark blue polyester pants. On the polyester shirt is my agency-issued badge and nameplate, along with two patches on the sleeves which read, ‘City of Lake Wales – POLICE’. While wearing this uniform, it clearly indicates I am a sworn uniformed law enforcement officer. I was also wearing my agency-Issued Body Worn Camera (BWC). The Body Worn Camera video footage was uploaded to Evidence.com.”
