ORLANDO, Fla. – An Orange County deputy involved in a shooting suffered minor injuries while struggling with a suspect Saturday night.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office said that one of its deputies was off duty and driving his personal vehicle around 11 p.m. when he was involved in a minor crash with another vehicle.
The other vehicle left the scene, and the deputy, identified as Anthony Claudio, followed the suspect to where he parked at 2200 Consulate Drive, authorities said.
Authorities said Claudio approached the driver, later identified as Vinod T. Persaud, about the crash, and Persaud then became belligerent and reached into his glove box. Officials said Claudio identified himself as a law enforcement officer and informed Persaud that he had a gun.
Persaud charged at the deputy and attempted to take control of the gun, which discharged, deputies said.
Persaud then ran back to his vehicle and left the scene, officials said.
Claudio suffered a minor injury from the struggle and gunshot, but it was unknown if Persaud was injured at that time, authorities said.
A deputy who was working in the area in a marked vehicle saw Persaud's vehicle traveling recklessly onto southbound Orange Blossom Trail and attempted to stop the suspect, official said. The vehicle crashed into another vehicle and damaged a sign on south Orange Blossom Trail, authorities said.
Persaud then fled of foot and was not found, deputies said.
Officers said that Persaud was identified, and at 3:15 a.m. was dropped off by an unknown person at Dr. Phillips Hospital with injuries from a gunshot wound. He remains hospitalized and is in custody for various criminal traffic charges.
Claudio, who is a veteran Orlando Police Department law enforcement officer assigned to the Orange County Sheriff's Office courthouse for the last year, had minor injuries and is recovering. He will be temporarily reassigned to administrative duties.
Sheriff Jerry Demings has requested the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct a deputy-involved shooting investigation. The Professional Standard Section of the Orange County Sheriff's Office will also conduct an administrative review.