Inmate shot after holding several hostage at Orange County Jail, deputies say

Suspect in custody, Orange County deputies say

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Multiple law enforcement officers swarmed the Orange County Jail Saturday evening, after deputies said an inmate held several people hostage at the intake area of the jail.

Pictures and video from the scene showed more than a dozen law enforcement vehicles from multiple agencies.

Orange County Sheriff John Mina said Eric Stanley was arrested Saturday evening along with another individual on drug charges after Stanley was speeding along World Center Drive. Upon being taken to the jail, Stanley was brought to the inmate intake area, where deputies said Stanley pulled out a gun and held a deputy, a corrections officer, a nurse, and that other individual hostage.

"The doors are locked and he was contained in that area [so he could not] escape or go into the jail," Mina said.

"By far, today is the worst day of my career," Chief of Corrections Louis Quinones said.

Stanley was shot by deputies and officers during the initial altercation, before he hid behind a desk, deputies said.

“He was shot by several officers and several deputies,” Mina said. “We were able to negotiate with him for an hour and a half through the PA system at the jail. He threw the gun away, and it was at that point our SWAT team moved in and secured him.”

Stanley is expected to be OK after being shot in the shoulder, while none of the hostages or deputies and officers outside were hurt. Law enforcement vehicles were also spotted at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

“We need to take extreme precautions to make sure we are safe, the corrections officers are safe as well as our community,” Mina said.

Stanley appears to have a criminal past in Pasco County.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the deputy and officer involved shooting.

Law enforcement vehicles were also spotted at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Stay with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates.


About the Authors

It has been an absolute pleasure for Clay LePard living and working in Orlando since he joined News 6 in July 2017. Previously, Clay worked at WNEP TV in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he brought viewers along to witness everything from unprecedented access to the Tobyhanna Army Depot to an interview with convicted double-murderer Hugo Selenski.

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