INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 57-year-old man who was shocked with a Taser after holding a knife to a woman’s throat and punching a K-9 dog, was jailed last week, authorities said.
Gerald Joseph Attanasio
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Deputies said Gerald Joseph Attanasio held the woman against her will and smashed her cell phone on the floor. Attanasio told the woman “if you call the cops, I’m going to kill you and myself,” reports show.
Deputies arrested Attanasio, of the 400 block of 23rd Street, Vero Beach, on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, hinder communication to 911, resisting arrest without violence and battery on police dog. Attanasio was held Wednesday at the Indian River County Jail on $45,500 bond.
Indian River County deputies responded to reports of a domestic violence incident about noon Feb. 5 at a home in the 2200 block of 5th Court, Vero Beach. A woman told deputies Attanasio had put her in a headlock earlier and held a kitchen knife to her throat, reports show.
The relationship between Attanasio and the woman was not detailed in the arrest report. The woman was able to get away from Attanasio and grab her phone.
A second woman drove to the home to check on the other woman and Attanasio. When the second woman walked inside, Attanasio told her, “I am going to stab myself and say you did it,” reports show.
Attanasio then grabbed a knife and made a stabbing motion toward himself, deputies said. The second woman left the home.
Deputies found Attanasio in the backyard. Attanasio ran from deputies, went inside the home and closed the sliding glass door behind him.
Attanasio then opened the door and told deputies “come at me,” reports show. K-9 Deputy dog Ruckus tried to detain Attanasio, but stopped when Attanasio punched the canine twice in the head, officials said.
Deputies shocked Attanasio with a Taser, arrested him and booked him into the county jail. Attanasio has an arraignment at 8:45 a.m. March 26, court records show.
