CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — The Citrus County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting in Inverness.
It happened just before noon on Thursday and involved a male passenger in a vehicle stopped by deputies at S. Elmwood Dr. and SR 44.
That man was identified as 41-year-old Jeremy Scott Jennings, who authorities say is wanted out of Vermont for assault. They also say he is a registered sex offender in New York.
Detectives were at a home in Inverness for a drug investigation, and as they transported a suspect to jail detectives noticed a passing vehicle with an occupant believed to have an outstanding warrant.
A marked unit tried to conduct a traffic stop. When the vehicle pulled over, a deputy and two detectives approached the vehicle. They say Jennings began to resist commands.
A struggle ensued, and preliminary investigation shows that during the struggle Jennings gained control of the deputy's taser and began to tase both the uniformed deputy and one of the assisting detectives.
Jennings refused commands to drop the weapon and was shot.
He was transported for treatment of his wounds, but the shot was not fatal.
The deputies involved were treated for injuries at the scene.
"Citrus County Sheriff's Office deputies and detectives are trained to respond appropriately to any threat they come in contact with. Today, we are thankful our own will be able to go home to their families due to their training and actions," said Sheriff Prendergast. "The willingness of this suspect to resort to physical violence during our contact is unsettling. An aggravated battery on three law enforcement officers like this could have easily ended the life of one of our deputies or that of the suspect."
As with any deputy-involved shooting, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is on scene and investigating this case. Following agency policy, the deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave with pay, pending the outcome of the preliminary FDLE investigation.
