A “violent suspect” was arrested in Orange County on Tuesday after officials say he inflicted months of captivity and abuse on a victim and led law enforcement on a multi-county car chase. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a gas station in Seffner on Monday after a caller reported that an injured female had just escaped from a van and needed help. Deputies say the victim had met the suspect, 48-year-old Walter Medina, in January 2024 and has since been subjected to “months of physical abuse and captivity.”Medina had repeatedly assaulted the victim using weapons like a wooden baseball bat and a flathead screwdriver and caused injuries not limited to broken ribs, deep puncture wounds and extensive bruising, HCSO said. “Over the course of approximately 2.5 months, the victim endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of Medina as he forcibly transported her around the Tampa Bay area and threatened to kill her if she fled or sought help,” deputies said. According to HCSO, the victim escaped when Medina briefly left her unattended at a Walgreens. When deputies made contact with the victim, they say she had numerous injuries and was transported to a local hospital. HCSO then obtained an arrest warrant for Medina for the following charges: Attempted second-degree murderArmed kidnappingArmed false imprisonmentAggravated battery with great bodily harmTampering with a witness Tampering with physical evidenceOn Tuesday, Medina was arrested in Orange County after a multi-county pursuit involving the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Lakeland Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol. According to WFLA, FHP says Medina attempted to elude law enforcement by weaving in and out of traffic recklessly. At one point, when Medina encountered heavy traffic, he started driving on the left shoulder at more than 100 mph.Law enforcement attempted two PIT maneuvers, but both were unsuccessful. FHP says Medina exited on John Young Parkway and crashed into the concrete median barrier. That’s when a K-9 was deployed and the suspect was apprehended by law enforcement. “This suspect’s reign of violent terror is now over,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “I am endlessly grateful for our law enforcement partners who put their lives on the line in service and protection of our community while apprehending this suspect. This joint effort exemplifies the strength of our community’s law enforcement network and our shared commitment to keeping our streets safe.”According to HCSO, Medina has served time in prison for a previous false imprisonment case and has an arrest history that includes kidnapping, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and robbery.
A “violent suspect” was arrested in Orange County on Tuesday after officials say he inflicted months of captivity and abuse on a victim and led law enforcement on a multi-county car chase.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a gas station in Seffner on Monday after a caller reported that an injured female had just escaped from a van and needed help.
Deputies say the victim had met the suspect, 48-year-old Walter Medina, in January 2024 and has since been subjected to “months of physical abuse and captivity.”
Medina had repeatedly assaulted the victim using weapons like a wooden baseball bat and a flathead screwdriver and caused injuries not limited to broken ribs, deep puncture wounds and extensive bruising, HCSO said.
“Over the course of approximately 2.5 months, the victim endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of Medina as he forcibly transported her around the Tampa Bay area and threatened to kill her if she fled or sought help,” deputies said.
According to HCSO, the victim escaped when Medina briefly left her unattended at a Walgreens. When deputies made contact with the victim, they say she had numerous injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
HCSO then obtained an arrest warrant for Medina for the following charges:
- Attempted second-degree murder
- Armed kidnapping
- Armed false imprisonment
- Aggravated battery with great bodily harm
- Tampering with a witness
- Tampering with physical evidence
On Tuesday, Medina was arrested in Orange County after a multi-county pursuit involving the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Lakeland Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol.
According to WFLA, FHP says Medina attempted to elude law enforcement by weaving in and out of traffic recklessly. At one point, when Medina encountered heavy traffic, he started driving on the left shoulder at more than 100 mph.
Law enforcement attempted two PIT maneuvers, but both were unsuccessful.
FHP says Medina exited on John Young Parkway and crashed into the concrete median barrier. That’s when a K-9 was deployed and the suspect was apprehended by law enforcement.
“This suspect’s reign of violent terror is now over,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “I am endlessly grateful for our law enforcement partners who put their lives on the line in service and protection of our community while apprehending this suspect. This joint effort exemplifies the strength of our community’s law enforcement network and our shared commitment to keeping our streets safe.”
According to HCSO, Medina has served time in prison for a previous false imprisonment case and has an arrest history that includes kidnapping, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and robbery.
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