Florida man hit deputy’s vehicle with stolen car and injured K-9 with a knife, sheriff says
A 36-year-old Bradenton man is facing multiple charges after deputies said he rammed a stolen car into one of their vehicles in a Walmart parking lot, drove over a shopping cart corral and took off on Friday afternoon.
It happened at about 4 p.m. after deputies found a stolen vehicle in the parking lot of Walmart on State Road 64 East, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
After he drove west on SR 64, the Sheriff’s Office helicopter caught up with him, and video shows he crashed the stolen car into a fence along U.S. 301, climbed out and took off running.
Deputies and a K-9 tracked Christopher John Darlington to the inside an unoccupied house in the 3600 block of 27th Street East, the release said. They surrounded the home and demanded Darlington surrender, but he refused.
Darlington was found barricaded in the master bedroom of the home, armed with two large knives.
When the K-9 approached him, Darlington lashed out, cutting the canine on his nose and the top of his head. Deputies were able to arrest him immediately following.
Meanwhile, K-9 Loki — a 7-year-old Belgian Malinois — was taken to a veterinary hospital where he received 12 stitches on his nose and the top of his head. Loki is expected to make a full recovery and to return to duty in about two weeks.
There were no other injuries reported.
Deputies found Darlington in possession of trafficking quantity of suspected fentanyl and stolen property from the home he broke into while evading arrest.
He was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, felony criminal mischief, armed burglary, aggravated battery on a police canine and trafficking in fentanyl.
At the time of his arrest, Darlington was also wanted on two charges of contempt of court.
Darlington remained in custody at the Manatee County jail on Monday morning. He is being held on bonds totaling $72,240, according to jail records.
This story was originally published October 17, 2022 at 11:13 AM.
