OCALA, Fla. – A man suspected of assaulting a pregnant woman and threatening to kill her and her daughter was wounded Sunday morning by a Marion County sheriff’s deputy who was trying to arrest him, authorities said in a news release.
Deputies were dispatched to 5700 NW Gainesville Road in reference to a physical and verbal altercation between the suspect and the woman, according to the news release from authorities.
The victim told responding deputies that the suspect, Daniel Lee Irwin, was on drugs and that he had broken her finger, punched her in the face and put a gun in her mouth, the release stated. The victim also said Irwin threatened to kill her and her daughter.
The victim said Irwin stated that if law enforcement officials were called that there would be a shootout. Deputies then established a perimeter and began tracking Irwin through a heavily wooded area, the release stated.
According to the release, after tracking Irwin for almost two hours, K-9 Deputy Matthew Hooper and his K-9 “Rambo," along with several other deputies, tracked Irwin to the Magnum Construction site on NW 27th Avenue Road in Ocala.
During the apprehension of Irwin, Hooper fired his gun, wounding the suspect. Irwin was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center where he is currently in critical condition. Hooper and K-9 Rambo were not injured, the release stated.
According to the release, on June 6, Irwin was arrested for domestic battery by strangulation on the same victim involved this case. In accordance with agency policy, Hooper will be placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The release stated Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers went to the scene and will be conducting the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
Detectives with the MCSO Bureau of Special Investigations continue to investigate the initial complaint of felony domestic battery, false imprisonment and sexual battery.