A Hernando County man is in custody after authorities said he chased first responders with a gun and tried stealing their fire truck after they were called to his home for a medical issue Sunday morning. Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies said the 74-year-old man had paramedics arrive to his house around 10:30 a.m. in the area of Leisure Street and Pleasant Lane in Ridge Manor. According to first responders, the man was “extremely intoxicated,” had fallen and couldn’t get up. When paramedics arrived, they say the man became combative, eventually getting up, grabbing a gun and chasing them out of his home.
Once outside, deputies said the man got into a fire truck and attempted to drive away with first responders still inside. Deputies arrived on scene and were able to remove him from the fire truck. Deputies said the man then punched a deputy prior to being taken into custody. The man was sent to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Once he’s cleared, deputies said he faces multiple counts of aggravated assault on a first responder, battery on a law enforcement officer, and armed burglary of a vehicle.
