(Sumter County, FL) On Friday, April 5, 2024, 61-year-old Dean Larry Oneal was found guilty of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting Law Enforcement Officer with Violence, Fleeing and Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement, and Possession of Paraphernalia.
“The defendant’s actions clearly demonstrated a blatant disregard for the safety of our community and the authority of law enforcement,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “By battering an officer and attempting to flee with drugs, he not only posed a direct threat to public safety but also showed a complete disregard for the laws that are in place to protect us all. It is imperative that we hold individuals like him accountable for such dangerous and reckless behavior.”
On February 9, 2023, just shortly after 9 pm in the vicinity of County Road 44A and County Road 221, a Sumter County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle that did not have a license plate. The SCSO deputy made contact with the driver, Oneal, who identified himself through an Indiana driver’s license.
During the stop, K-9 unit was summoned to the scene of the traffic stop and the dog alerted on the vehicle, indicating the presence of drugs. A deputy informed Oneal that a search of the vehicle would take place. Oneal became argumentative and advised he would not step out of the vehicle. When the deputy took him by the arm for compliance and to try to remove him from the car, Oneal fled.
The deputy pursued Oneal’s vehicle for a mile and a half before Oneal pulled over into the driveway of a residence. He was subsequently taken into custody without further incident. A search of the vehicle turned up a small clear bag that tested positive for the presence of cocaine, along with pills identified as Sildenafil, which requires a prescription. Officials also found a plastic bag that contained yellow squares which tested positive for THC.
Oneal was arrested and booked into the Sumter County Detention Center.
This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Shelby Senn.
Published on 04/10/2024.