VIDEO: Florida Deputy Punched, Shot After Traffic Stop
The Indian River County (FL) Sheriff's Office released video that shows a deputy being punched by a career criminal before he was shot in an exchange of gunfire following an overnight traffic stop in Gifford, reports WPTV.
The shooting happened around 3:20 a.m. after a traffic stop near the 4300 block of Old Dixie Hwy.
Sheriff Deryl Loar said Deputy Chris Lester pulled over a man—identified as Andrew Jeff Coffee, 53, of Vero Beach—on a moped because there wasn't a tag on the vehicle.
Lester asked Coffee to take his hands out of his pocket during the traffic stop.
Video shows Coffee refusing to comply, punching Lester and standing over him. The deputy was able to get to his feet and fired multiple shots at Coffee during a frantic foot chase.
A police K-9 later found Coffee hiding in a stack of crates at a nearby fruit packing company.
Lester is in stable condition after sustaining one shot to the leg. Coffee was shot in the side and leg and is in the trauma unit of Lawnwood Medical Center in stable condition.
