DELAND, Fla. – A deputy was injured, and a woman was taken into custody after an incident in DeLand on Tuesday evening.
Body camera footage captured the tense moments when the officer, who was attempting to communicate with the woman through a bathroom window, was forced to take cover after a shot was fired.
“He felt something hit his neck,” Deputy Chief Adam Kisthardt said. “Fortunately, neither the officer nor the woman were injured in the incident.”
According to the agency, a police officer responded to the home on Curry Rise Court in the Victoria Hills neighborhood regarding a 911 hang-up call.
The officer said the woman inside the home initially refused to come out of the home and talk to them but when she did come out, she produced a handgun and placed it under her chin.
“He handled it perfectly,” Kisthardt said. “He capitalized on his training and did everything right. He kept himself safe, he tried to maximize safety for this woman too, while he investigated and found out what her intent was.”
The officer sought cover and asked for backup. Moments later, the officer heard a loud bang that sounded like it came from inside the house, and the officer reported being struck by what is believed to be shrapnel from a gunshot. The officer’s neck was grazed and is expected to be OK.
The agency said there was a second gunshot fired inside the house.
Eventually, the woman voluntarily surrendered and was taken into custody by police.
Because of questions regarding her mental health, News 6 is not publishing the woman’s name at this time.
During a court appearance Wednesday, the woman’s family told the judge she was suffering from depression and needed help. The woman stated she would never intentionally harm an officer and had no prior experience firing a weapon.
She now faces multiple charges, including:
- Aggravated assault
- Reckless discharge of a firearm
- Resisting arrest
Kisthardt emphasized how 911 hang-up calls present unique challenges for law enforcement.
“It could be anything,” he explained. “It could be a domestic violence call, which are very dangerous for officers. It could be a mental health crisis, there was a home invasion robbery, it could be many of any things.”
The incident highlighted the importance of officer training, according to department leadership.
“Investment in the way he responded started well before yesterday,” Kisthardt noted. “We have our own training section here. We put a lot of commitment into training that makes officers better.”
The department’s training program includes tactical communication, proper use of cover and concealment, and other critical skills that proved valuable during this incident.