A Florida sheriff’s deputy ran a bicyclist off the road in his police cruiser after the suspect drew a firearm, officials said.
Deputy Christopher Murphy was conducting patrols in Palm Coast Saturday night when he spotted Michael McDermott, 38, standing next to a bicycle on the ground.
The Deputy attempted to speak to McDermott, but he hopped on the bike and sped off.
Murphy turned on his lights and pursued McDermott in his cruiser. He initially slowed down and appeared poised to stop before racing off again.
“As Deputy Murphy turned onto Westminster Drive, he observed McDermott pulling a firearm out of his pants,” the department wrote on Facebook. “Deputy Murphy, fearing that McDermott would engage him with the firearm, struck McDermott with his vehicle, ejecting him from the bicycle and causing him to drop the firearm.”
Murphy took McDermott into custody with the assistance of arriving Deputy Michael Anderson and recovered a 9mm pistol near the suspect. McDermott was found wearing a holster for the gun, police said.
McDermott was taken to a local hospital to treat a minor ankle injury before he was released and taken to jail.
McDermott, who has an arrest record dating back to 2013, was charged with assault or battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding, resisting an officer with violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
“The job that a deputy sheriff does to proactively protect our community is a dangerous one, and deputies must often make split-second decisions,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “In this instance, Deputy Murphy was forced to make a split-second decision in a dangerous encounter with an armed felon. This incident could have taken a deadly turn, and I am thankful that the situation was quickly resolved before that became a reality.”
