Pinellas Deputy Attacked as Subject Attempted to Carjack His Cruiser After He Stopped to Help Man in the Roadway (AUDIO Below)
Posted: January 31, 2015 – 10:50 AM
As approximately 4:25 AM on Saturday, January 31, 2014, Deputy Richard Tipton was on patrol, in his 19th year with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, traveling on Alderman Road near Westlake Boulevard in Palm Harbor.
According to Cecilia Barreda, Public Information Coordinator for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Tipton was on patrol eastbound on Alderman Road approaching Westlake Boulevard when he observed a male running from the south side of the road into the path of a 2000 Chevrolet Suburban about 300 yards ahead of him.
The driver of the Suburban, 49-year-old Sharon L. Scroggins of Palm Harbor, stopped abruptly and then backed up and changed lanes before stopping again.
Investigators say as Deputy Tipton came closer, he saw the man lying on his back in the roadway and it appeared that he had been struck by the Suburban. Deputy Tipton activated his emergency lights and reported what he had observed over the radio, but before he could exit his cruiser, the man had risen to his feet.
According to deputies, as Deputy Tipton approached the man to check his condition, He threw a punch without warning, striking Deputy Tipton on the left side of his head then proceeded to strike the deputy several more times, breaking his eyeglasses and knocking him backwards to the ground.
Deputies say Scroggins, the driver of the Suburban, had gotten out of the vehicle to assist Deputy Tipton and sustained an injury to her head during the altercation between the suspect and the deputy.
Deputies say the man then got into Deputy Tipton’s marked patrol car and revved the engine as he attempted to put it in gear. Deputy Tipton, still dazed from the blows to his head, was able to get up, call for back-up, open the driver’s door to the cruiser and deploy his electronic control device (ECD) on the suspect, with no effect.  Deputy Tipton utilized his ECD a second time to drive stun the suspect. Deputies say there was no apparent effect again.
According to deputies, the man then exited the cruiser and ran north across the median where he fell and then continued to fight with back-up deputies who arrived to take him into custody.
Deputy Tipton was transported by ambulance to Mease-Countryside Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. He sustained injuries to his left ear, lower lip, and a broken tailbone.
Scroggins was also transported by ambulance to Florida Hospital North Pinellas for treatment of non-life threatening injuries to her head.
Scroggins’ 83 year-old father Maurice Scherf was her passenger in the Suburban and not injured.
The suspect, later identified as 23 year-old Zane Thomas Gavin of Palm Harbor, was transported by ambulance to Mease-Countryside Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Â Records indicate that Gavin was arrested 7 times in Pinellas County in 2014 alone.
Gavin was arrested for Aggravated Battery on LEO, Resisting Arrest with Violence, Attempted Carjacking and Aggravated Battery.  He was transported to the Pinellas County Jail. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will release his photo only to authorized media outlets once the booking process is complete.  IONTB will post the booking photo when able to obtain from a media partner.  More information on Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office booking photos HERE.
The investigation continues.
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