INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 31-year-old man suspected of using a metal rod to smash patrol car windows before wrestling with deputies and getting stunned with a Taser, was arrested Wednesday, authorities said.
The man – identified as Andrew Martin Shepard – left $1,500 in damages to the vehicle, reports show. Shepard also swung the metal rod at one of the deputies twice, missing the officer, authorities said.
Deputies arrested Shepard on charges of criminal mischief, resisting arrest with violence, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest without violence. Shepard was being held Friday at the Indian River County Jail on $15,000 bond.
An Indian River County deputy went to a McDonald’s about 7 a.m. Wednesday in the 13000 block of U.S. 1. When the deputy left the restaurant, he noticed the windshield and windows on his patrol car were damaged, reports show.
A witness saw a man, later identified as Shepard, standing next to the vehicle earlier carrying the rod. The witness gave deputies Shepard’s description.
Deputies found Shepard walking southbound on U.S. 1. A deputy repeatedly ordered Shepard to put the 5-foot rod on the ground, but he refused.
Shepard began to bang the rod on the roadway and then ran eastbound, crossed the southbound lanes and went to the median, reports show. Shepard swung the rod at the deputy “with a baseball bat type swing,” authorities said.
The deputy shocked Shepard with a Taser as he reached the eastbound shoulder of U.S. 1. Shepard was able to get away and ran eastbound through the Sebastian Municipal Cemetery, 1921 North Central Avenue, reports show.
The deputy tackled Shepard and detained him, with the help of Sebastian police officers. Shepard denied the allegations against him, authorities said.
Deputies took Shepard to the county jail. Shepard has an arraignment at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 31, court records show.
