Crime & Public Safety
Wildwood driver allegedly rammed deputy’s patrol vehicle during attempted arrest at hotel
A man allegedly rammed his sport utility vehicle into a Sumter County deputy’s patrol vehicle after a traffic stop at a Wildwood hotel parking lot, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies say the stop occurred when a deputy observed the driver’s vehicle with a headlight out and followed it into the Quality Inn parking area on State Road 44.
The agency report states the deputy asked the driver for identification and learned the man had active warrants, including from the Florida Department of Corrections and from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. When the deputy opened the driver’s door and attempted to take the man into custody, the report says the driver pulled away, shifted into reverse and struck the deputy’s patrol vehicle, damaging its driver-side bumper. The deputy’s K-9 was in the patrol vehicle at the time, and deputies reported the suspect struck the deputy with the vehicle door as he backed away.
According to the arrest report, the driver fled the scene, driving briefly against traffic on State Road 44 and later abandoning the vehicle in a truck parking area. A bystander reported seeing the man run behind parked semi-trucks. Deputies located drug paraphernalia and Methamp in the vehicle after a K-9 indicated a positive alert, the report said.
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office arrested and booked 34-year-old John Joseph Riehm on multiple charges, including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting with violence, possession of Methamp, possession of drug paraphernalia, fleeing/eluding and use of a deadly weapon on a law enforcement K-9. The report states deputies took Riehm into custody at a Wildwood RV Village lot without incident the following day. Current case status is as documented in the agency arrest report and detention booking information.
All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.