On June 6 at 6:04 pm, a call came in about a stolen vehicle in Winter Haven. When an officer spotted and approached the stolen vehicle, the driver fled the scene. While in pursuit, the stolen vehicle crashed into another vehicle but continued fleeing. One victim claimed that the suspect was harassing her by her residence so she took off with her children in her car. The suspect however stopped her and the victim ran to a nearby store for help and then the suspect took off in the vehicle with her children inside.
The suspect allegedly returned to the store and the children got out of the car, and while fleeing with the car again, the suspect struck the victim with the car.
Shortly after, the vehicle crashed into a Winter Haven home with residents inside. The driver of the stolen vehicle got out of the car, then started fleeing on foot.
The suspect was ultimately captured and identified as Jamara Sampson DOB 07/27/1993. Sampson was charged with 2 two counts of kidnapping a child under the age of 13, one count of robbery by sudden snatching, three counts of false imprisonment, one count of grand theft of a motor vehicle, one count of tampering with a witness, one count of aggravated stalking, one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, one count of fleeing to elude, one count of resisting without violence, one count of burglary to an occupied structure, one count of hit and run with injuries, and one count of hit and run with property damage. Keep reading for the full affidavit.
It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by PCSO. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. Winter Haven 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 your own conclusion.
“On 06/06/2024 at 1804 hours, dispatch received a call regarding a vehicle being stolen at the Dollar General located at 3602 Cypress Gardens Rd., Winter Haven. Upon arrival in the area, D/S Giles, driving in his marked Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) patrol vehicle, observed a vehicle in the area matching the description of the suspect and the stolen vehicle, a black male driving a white Honda Accord. D/S Giles attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle began fleeing from him. D/S Giles initiated a vehicle pursuit, using his lights and sirens, and shortly after, the vehicle struck another vehicle and continued driving.
The vehicle then crashed into the side of a residence located at REDACTED Eagle Lake Loop Rd. The driver then was observed by a witness, REDACTED, fleeing the vehicle and running southbound from the crash scene. D/S Giles was able to locate the suspect, identified at the scene and by victim 1 as Jamara Sampson, after he had entered an occupied residence while trying to flee from law enforcement. Sampson was placed into custody at this time.
I made contact with victim 1, REDACTED, who advised she was at her apartment with her kids about to leave and observed Sampson outside of her apartment by the stairs. REDACTED advised he had been harassing her multiple times over the past month and she had told him to leave her alone.
REDACTED advised that she had asked him what he was doing here and he did not answer. REDACTED stated she was afraid so she got into her car with her kids and as she was going to close her car door, Sampson blocked her from closing the door by standing in the way. REDACTED advised she started to reverse the vehicle to get away because she was afraid. REDACTED stated Sampson then grabbed onto her door as she was trying to drive away and she told him multiple times to let go. REDACTED then began driving away because she was afraid and she was telling him multiple times to let go and leave her alone. REDACTED advised Sampson tried to grab the steering wheel and make the vehicle crash so REDACTED pulled over.
REDACTED advised as she was stopping, she was trying to call law enforcement and Sampson snatched her phone from her hand. REDACTED advised that once she pulled over, she ran to the nearby Dollar General to get help and Sampson proceeded to get into the driver’s seat of her vehicle and drive away with her kids, 8 years old and 12 years old.
REDACTED advised while she was reporting this to law enforcement, Sampson returned to the Dollar General and parked her vehicle. Sampson proceeded to yell at the children to get out of the car and they exited the vehicle. REDACTED went behind the vehicle to try to keep Sampson from leaving again with her car and Sampson began to drive off, striking her with the vehicle and leaving the scene. REDACTED advised she was sore from the incident but received no real injuries. REDACTED advised she knows Sampson due to a battery that he was involved in and she was a witness to, and believes he is stalking her because she told police what happened in the battery. REDACTED provided a sworn recorded statement attesting to this.
Contact was made with victim 2, REDACTED, who advised she was driving on the road when the white Honda Accord was speeding up from behind her and struck the front left bumper of her vehicle while he was fleeing law enforcement. REDACTED advised she has pain in her side and head from the incident but refused EMS treatment, advising she would go to the doctor on her own. REDACTED advised that the suspect vehicle had continued driving and she saw a Polk County Sheriff’s Office marked patrol car immediately behind the suspect vehicle with its lights and sirens activated. REDACTED provided a sworn recorded statement.
Contact was made with victim 3, REDACTED, who advised she was in her home located at REDACTED Eagle Lake Loop Rd. when she heard a loud bang and felt the house shake. REDACTED proceeded to look out the front of the house, where she observed the white Honda Accord attempting to leave the scene. REDACTED advised the vehicle then stopped and a black male exited the vehicle and proceeded to run southwest of the crash scene. REDACTED advised she attempted to stop the suspect, but he continued to flee the crash scene. REDACTED advised nobody within the home was injured at this time, but extensive property damage was done to the home. REDACTED provided a sworn recorded statement.
Contact was made with victim 4, REDACTED, who advised she was watching tv in her home when an unknown black male entered the back door of her residence and demanded that she hide him from the police. REDACTED advised the suspect was told multiple times to leave but did not leave the residence. REDACTED advised that she was able to convince the suspect that there was a good hiding spot in the backyard to get him out of her house, and he exited the home. REDACTED stated the suspect was then apprehended by law enforcement in the back of her residence. REDACTED advised she never gave him permission to enter her home. REDACTED provided a sworn recorded statement.
Contact was made with Jamara Sampson at Winter Haven Hospital where he was being treated for minor injuries sustained during the vehicle crash. Sampson was advised of his Miranda Rights and advised he understood. Post-Miranda, Sampson stated he was trying to get some clothes that were his from REDACTED at her apartment and knew she usually got home at 5 pm. Sampson advised a verbal argument with REDACTED ensued and he tried to stop her from leaving by jumping on the car. Sampson advised that when she got out to go to Dollar General to call for help, he noticed she left the kids and the car and drove off. Sampson advised he cares about kids so he brought the kids back, but he got scared that REDACTED was calling the police and fled in her vehicle. Sampson stated he noticed a marked PCSO patrol k-9 car get behind him and try to stop him, but he was scared so he fled. Sampson advised he does not remember crashing into anything or trying to enter anyone’s house, but advised he was trying to get away from police. Sampson initially denied hitting REDACTED with the car, but then stated that it was the only way he could get away before police arrived.
At this time, I find that probable cause exists to charge Sampson with two counts of kidnapping a child under the age of 13, one count of robbery by sudden snatching, three counts of false imprisonment, one count of grand theft of a motor vehicle, one count of tampering with a witness, one count of aggravated stalking, one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, one count of fleeing to elude, one count of resisting without violence, one count of burglary to an occupied structure, one count of hit and run with injuries, and one count of hit and run with property damage. Sampson was arrested and transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center without incident.”
Video of the crash here:
Sheri McDaniel who was in her home with her children when the car crashed into her home said, “I’m just so happy he didn’t harm me or my children. And so happy the lady he stole the car from is ok. This was definitely an experience I pray we never experience again.”
