VALDOSTA – The Valdosta Police Department has arrested a Valdosta resident for the intentional hit and run of a 25-year-old man.

Release:

Arrested: Reyez Gabriel Rivas Sanchez, Hispanic male, 22 years of age, Valdosta resident
Victim: Denilson Guadalupe Cuc Sampoj, Hispanic male, 25 years of age, Valdosta resident

On December 18, 2023, at approximately 12:05 am., Valdosta Police Officers responded to the 100 block of East Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive after a citizen called E911 to report that a individual was laying in the roadway and he was unresponsive. When officers arrived on the scene, they found Denilson Guadalupe Cuc Sampoj, a 25-year-old male laying in the roadway, and they immediately began to give first aid. Emergency Medical Services responded and transported the victim to South Georgia Medical Center.

Officers found evidence on the scene that showed the victim had been struck by a vehicle. Officers began to search the area and they located the suspected offender vehicle abandoned between two houses. The vehicle was seized and taken to the Valdosta Lowndes Regional Crime Laboratory for analysis.

Members of the department’s Traffic Unit, Persons Crime Unit, and Crime Scene Personnel are investigating the incident.

Through investigation and surveillance video, detectives identified Reyez Gabriel Rivas Sanchez, 22 years of age, as the driver of the vehicle that struck Sampoj. Sampoj and Sanchez are known to each other and had been in the car together prior to the incident. While in the car an argument ensued, which resulted in a physical altercation. Sampoj exited the vehicle and walked away. Sanchez then intentionally drove the vehicle at Sampoj, striking him and knocking him to the ground. The surveillance video shows the vehicle Sanchez was driving turn around, travel in the wrong lane, and intentionally run over Sampoj while he was laying on the ground.

On December 18, 2023, at approximately 7:30 pm., detectives made contact with Sanchez. He was arrested without incident and taken to Lowndes County Jail. He has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault (felony) and two counts of aggravated battery (felony).

The victim is listed in critical condition.

The investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending.

If anyone has any information on this case, please contact the Valdosta Police Department Bureau of Investigative Services at 229-293-3145, or the crime tip line at 229-293-3091.