Aggravated Battery on Law Enforcement Officer - Hernando County ...

www.hernandosheriff.org
P.O. BOX 10070 – BROOKSVILLE, FL 34603-0070 FAX 352 796-0493 PHONE 352 754-6830
Media Release
From: Denise M. Moloney
Public Information Officer, 352-797-3609
Re: <strong>Aggravated</strong> <strong>Battery</strong> on Law Enforcement Officer
Date: January 4, 2013
SHERIFF
Al Nienhuis
On 01-03-13, at approximately 7:26 p.m., Deputies Dane Jenkins and Joseph Schneider
observed a white Chevrolet Impala fail to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Century
Dr. and Essex Ln. in Spring Hill.
A traffic stop was conducted on the Impala at Century Dr. and Deltona Bv. Upon making
contact with the driver, later identified as John Rispoli, he abruptly turned the steering
wheel to the left and accelerated toward Deputy Jenkins. In fear for his life, Deputy Jenkins
stepped backwards to avoid being stuck by the vehicle. Rispoli ran over the right foot of
Deputy Jenkins with the rear wheel of the vehicle and then fled the scene.
Both deputies returned to the patrol vehicle, advised over the radio what had occurred and
attempted to catch up to Rispoli. Unable to catch up to or locate Rispoli, deputies were
called off.
A short time later, a detective in an unmarked vehicle located Rispoli’s vehicle at the
intersection of Running Oak Ct. and Overview Ln. Rispoli had crashed into a fire hydrant and
fled from the vehicle on foot.
Deputies suspected that Rispoli ran into a heavily wooded area near where the car was
abandoned. A K-9 team was called to search the area. Deputy Brandon Cox and K-9 Ike
began a track from the suspect vehicle. K-9 Ike tracked a long distance to the north and
located the suspect near the Explorer K-8 School. The suspect (Rispoli) failed to comply
with lawful commands and was bitten by K-9 Ike.
Sheriff Al Nienhuis said, “This case is yet another example of how fleeing from law
enforcement is both dangerous and unintelligent. Mr. Rispoli has additional charges and a
dog bite because of a very bad choice made when stopped by one of my deputies for a

elatively minor traffic violation. Suspects who think about fleeing from us should
remember that we likely have much more experience catching suspects than they do at
getting away.”
Both Deputy Jenkins and Rispoli were treated and released at a local hospital.
John Rispoli W/M DOB/12-18-1989 was charged with <strong>Aggravated</strong> <strong>Battery</strong> on a LEO, Fleeing to
Elude, Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Property Damage and Driving While License
Suspended or Revoked. His BOND is set at $11,000.