Manatee deputy fires shots at Sarasota man fleeing traffic stop, sheriff’s office says

A Sarasota man is facing four charges following a Wednesday traffic stop that led a deputy to fire their weapon, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.

The driver, 38-year-old Brandon Sharp, was identified by a deputy at 2:14 p.m. going 37 miles per hour in a 20-mile-per-hour school zone near Kinnan Elementary School, 3415 Tallevast Road, Sarasota, according to a press release.

As the deputy attempted to pull him over, Sharp made a U-turn heading east on Tallevast Road, investigators say. Another deputy joined the chase and followed Sharp’s vehicle through slow-moving traffic until Sharp eventually stopped several hundred yards away, according to the sheriff’s office.

When deputies approached the vehicle, Sharp rolled up his window, the press release said. One deputy opened the driver’s door in an attempt to remove him from the car, deputies say.

Investigators said Sharp then accelerated his vehicle and the officer was pinned by the car door, knocked to the pavement and dragged.

The deputy fired two shots that struck the vehicle when he recovered from the ground – no bullets hit the driver, the release said.

Sharp then led deputies on a slow-speed pursuit to his home address in the 6300 block of Prospect Road, the press release said. Once he arrived and stopped at his home, Sharp refused to leave his car or comply with commands from deputies, according to the sheriff’s office.

According to a press release, deputies smashed Sharp’s car window and pulled him from the vehicle. After pulling Sharp from the car, deputies used a stun gun on him because he continued to resist arrest, according to the sheriff’s office.

Sharp was charged with speeding in a school zone, fleeing to elude, obstruction and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. He was the only occupant in the vehicle, deputies say.

Sharp is being held without bond at the Manatee County Jail.

Deputies were treated for minor injuries at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.

An investigation into the shooting and an internal investigation are underway. The deputy who fired shots is on routine paid administrative leave while the investigations take place, the release said.

This story was originally published May 11, 2023 at 1:07 PM.