Venice football player hit Sarasota police officer who feared for his life. So he opened fire, cops say
A Sarasota police officer fired his gun at an SUV, shooting two people inside, after police say the vehicle driven by a Venice High School football player accelerated and struck him, putting him in fear for his life.
Sarasota police are investigating the Tuesday morning officer-involved shooting in Janie's Garden Apartment complex, 2350 Central Ave., Sarasota. It started just before 1 a.m. when two officers patrolling the area noticed a suspicious vehicle near the apartments, Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino said.
DiPino said the engine of the SUV was running so two officers approached the vehicle to see what was going on inside.
As Officer Brandon Vermillion approached the driver's side of the vehicle, the SUV accelerated toward him, causing the officer to feel as though his life was in danger, DiPino said. The vehicle hit him and Vermillion fired "a number of rounds" into the SUV, striking two people inside.
How many shots were fired and the location of the shots is still under investigation.
The vehicle took off, and the men drove themselves to Sarasota Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, according to police. There were three people in the vehicle, DiPino said, but the third was not injured.
DiPino added the other officer involved, Johnathon Torres, did not fire his weapon. Torres had approached the vehicle, which police determined was a rented SUV, from behind.
Both officers Vermillion, 28, and Torres, 32, received minor injuries. They have been released from the hospital. Vermillion, who was hired in November 2015, is on paid administrative leave, per department policy. Torres, who was hired in June 2017, has been given some time off as well.
"Being involved in a situation like this is both physically and emotionally trying on the officers," DiPino said.
Jeremy Trebbles Jr., 18, of Sarasota, the driver of the vehicle, will be charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer, DiPino said. He was one of the two shot in the incident. He was hit in the shoulder, according to DiPino.
Trebbles was arrested in January on a charge of possession of cocaine with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school or place of worship. He had about 4 grams of crack cocaine when he was arrested.
Trebbles was also part of Venice High’s state championship football team this past season and in January had several offers to play in college. He played at Sarasota High before transferring to Venice and helping the Indians reach the Class 7A state final four in 2016 and capture the 7A state title in 2017.
It is the second officer-involved shooting in just over a week, DiPino acknowledged, saying it was a tough week at the department.
"I'm really concerned with the level of violence in our community," DiPino said, mentioning that officers are also still searching for an armed and dangerous attempted homicide suspect. "I'm proud of our officers that go out every single day and night."
Protestors have recently taken to the streets of Newtown calling for an end of racism and brutality from the Sarasota Police Department.
"The protest had nothing to do with either one of the shootings," DiPino said. "I encourage people to have a voice and that is their right to protest and say what they feel is important."
This story was originally published April 10, 2018 at 6:55 AM with the headline "Venice football player hit Sarasota police officer who feared for his life. So he opened fire, cops say."