A Florida sheriff's deputy on patrol in Palm Coast late Saturday night spotted a man standing next to a bicycle on the ground on a sidewalk along Pine Lakes Parkway. . said. Palm Coast is located just over 30 minutes south of St. Augustine.
Video from the police car shows the deputy trying to get the man's attention, later identified as Michael McDermott, 38, and ordering him to stop, before the deputy activates his emergency lights.
The sheriff's office said a 9mm Luger handgun was found near McDermott, and that McDermott was actually wearing a holster for the gun.
McDermott appeared to comply, slowing down enough for the deputy to stop the patrol car and get out, but apparently changed his mind and ignored the law enforcement officer's commands, pedaling away down Westminster Drive. I started.
With that, the deputy got back in his patrol car and chased McDermott — and soon saw McDermott pull a gun from his pants, according to the sheriff's office.
Image source: Flagler County (Florida) Sheriff's Office video screenshot
Fearing that McDermott would engage him with a firearm, the deputy struck McDermott with his patrol car, forcing McDermott off his bike.
Image source: Flagler County (Florida) Sheriff's Office video screenshot
The deputy, with the assistance of another deputy who had arrived in backup, handcuffed McDermott, pulled him off the ground and began questioning him on the hood of his patrol car.
Image source: Flagler County (Florida) Sheriff's Office video screenshot
The sheriff's office said a 9mm Luger handgun was found near McDermott, and that McDermott was actually wearing a holster for the gun.
McDermott was arrested on suspicion of assault and battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding, resisting with violence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the sheriff's office.
Officials said McDermott was initially taken to a hospital with a minor injury to his right ankle and then transferred to the Sheriff's Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.
The suspect has an extensive arrest history in Flagler County since 2013, the sheriff's office said, adding that he was released from the same jail on Dec. 17 after serving a 90-day sentence for possession of fentanyl.
“The work that sheriff's deputies do to proactively protect our communities is a dangerous job, and they often have to make split-second decisions,” said Flagler Sheriff Rick. Staley said. “In this example, Deputy Murphy was forced to make a split-second decision in a dangerous encounter with an armed felon. We are grateful that the situation was resolved quickly.”
“My mother says when will I be able to live my life properly?”
Further comic relief came when the sheriff's office revealed that Cyndi Lauper's “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” was actually being played on the sheriff's radio as the incident unfolded.
Content warning: language:
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