Police seek charges against Seminole County tax collector over scuffle with blogger

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — A long-time Seminole County tax collector at the center of a controversy involving a scuffle with a political blogger could soon be facing charges in connection with the incident, officials said.

The Altamonte Springs Police Department announced Tuesday that it would seek charges against Ray Valdes after video of a confrontation between him and blogger Jacob Engels surfaced.

Engels’ attorney sent a letter to State Attorney for the 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Phil Archer, asking him to recuse himself from making a filing decision because Valdes has been in office nearly 30 years in Seminole County.

Cellphone video of the altercation shows Engels asking Valdes about allegations of nepotism at a political event Thursday.

"Did you hire your sister-in-law?" Engels asked.

"You're a liar, and my sister-in-law does not work for (me)," Valdes responded. "You're lying."

At that point in the video, it appears that Valdes reached to grab the blogger's cellphone.

"Give me my phone. Give me my phone," Engels said in the video.

“Mr. Valdes embarrassed himself. He violated an informal code of conduct among elected officials, and now voters will decide whether that matters,” said WFTV political analyst Dr. Rick Foglesong.

Engels owns the blog, Seminole County Post, which recently featured articles accusing Valdes of abusing his position and of nepotism, while praising his opponent, Joel Greenberg, who gave a witness statement to police.

“The presence of his opponent suggests that Mr. Valdes was provoked in his response to the blogger, who was asking him these hard questions. Nonetheless, Mr. Valdes clearly overreacted,” Foglesong said.

Foglesong explained that tax collectors have a tendency to stay in office a long time, based on name recognition and endorsements.

Valdes has been at the helm since 1988.

“At minimum, he owes an apology to the questioner, but he also owes an apology, in my judgment, to the people who elected him,” said Foglesong.

9 Investigates reported last month about ethics violations against Valdes when allegations surfaced that he used his office to profit off of the selling of tax certificates.

Police did not specify what charges they were filing against Valdes.

The Altamonte Police Department is seeking charges of battery, theft and criminal mischief against Valdes.

It will be up to the State Attorney’s Office to determine if the charges are warranted and, if so, prosecute Valdes.

Valdes' attorney submitted a letter or statement on his behalf to police, but it wasn't enough to stop them from submitting the case to the State Attorney's Office.

Cox Media Group