Two Orlando police officers are currently recovering in the hospital after they were shot in downtown Orlando. According to Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith, the incident occurred during a traffic stop on Friday night when 28-year-old Daton Viel allegedly opened fire on the officers.
The male and female officers had approached a car they suspected to be connected to a homicide in Miami.
After shooting the officers, the suspect carjacked another driver and fled. The police tracked the suspect from Apopka to a hotel near International Drive. The pursuit, which lasted for several hours, came to an end when SWAT teams surrounded the Holiday Inn and evacuated the guests.
Despite their efforts, the suspect, Viel, refused to surrender and took shelter in a hotel room. In the confrontation that followed, he shot at the SWAT officers multiple times, and they responded by returning fire, ultimately resulting in the suspect’s death.
The good news is that the two wounded officers are expected to recover fully, as stated by doctors at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
This isn’t the first time law enforcement has had encounters with Viel. In March, he was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. He was released on bond in April and put on probation with an electronic ankle monitor.
However, Viel cut off the ankle monitor and got into trouble with the police again when he was pulled over by UCF Police for having a stolen tag on his car.
On July 11, Viel’s probation officer requested a warrant for his arrest due to violating probation, but it’s unclear if that warrant was ever issued.
Despite the tragic events that unfolded in Orlando, Chief Eric Smith emphasized that his officers would persist in their efforts to apprehend criminals and keep the community safe.
He expressed frustration that such violence could be perpetrated by someone who simply didn’t want to return to prison.
Channel 9 has reached out to UCF and the State Attorney’s Office for comments on these incidents but has yet to receive a response.
