HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — A man was detained on Sunday after he tried to drive away in a fire engine and then punched a deputy, authorities said.
Hernando County Fire Rescue responded to a medical call shortly after 10 a.m. in the area of Leisure Street and Pleasant Lane in Ridge Manor.
A 74-year-old man, who was intoxicated, had fallen and was unable to get up, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).
When paramedics arrived on the scene and began to administer aid, the elderly man became combative. He then got up, retrieved a firearm, and chased the first responders out of the home, a HCSO report stated.
Once outside, the man got into a fire truck and attempted to drive away with a first responder still inside, the report stated.
Deputies arrived on the scene and were able to climb onto the fire truck and remove the man from the vehicle.
The man punched a deputy before being taken into custody. He was then taken to an area hospital for evaluation, according to the report.
Once he is medically cleared, the man faces multiple counts of aggravated assault on a first responder, battery on a law enforcement officer, and armed burglary of a vehicle.
Soaring gas prices disrupt spring break plans for Lakeland drivers
The escalating war in Iran is hitting drivers right here in the Tampa Bay Area hard. Tampa Bay 28's Rebecca Petit caught up with drivers in Lakeland who told her that soaring gas prices are crushing their spring break plans.
