Man wanted on federal charges shot by Pasco detective after trying to ram him with car: Sheriff

Suspect injured in deputy-involved shooting

Evyn Moon reports

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - A man was injured in a deputy-involved shooting in Pasco County Thursday afternoon, according to the sheriff's office.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said Tom Rose, 40, was wanted on a federal warrant, and deputies said they got a tip he was in New Port Richey. Investigators with the United States Marshals Task Force got involved Thursday morning and began their search for the suspect.

Investigators said he was found at a Home Depot on Ridge and Little Road. He drove off from law enforcement, and a brief pursuit happened before authorities decided to stop the chase and keep surveillance on him instead.

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A short time later, Nocco said a Pasco detective found Rose in the River Ridge community, which is a residential neighborhood that is nearby. As they tried to take him into custody, Rose tried hitting a detective with his car, according to officials.

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Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said deputies were searching for a suspect wanted on federal warrants when the shooting happened in New Port Richey. The suspect tried to hit a deputy with his car, which led to the deputy firing at the vehicle, hitting the man.

That's when the Pasco detective, who was outside the patrol vehicle, fired shots at Rose's vehicle to force him to stop, hitting him. The Pasco sheriff said during a news conference after the shooting that Rose is in stable condition and expected to recover from his injuries.

Rose has an extensive criminal history and had previously spent 10 years in prison for drug and gun charges. Wednesday night before the shooting, he made statements to a person that if anyone contacting the police about him, they would have to "answer to him" adding that he would "take cops with him," according to Nocco.

"That suspect got what he deserved," Nocco said Thursday. "If you are willing to kill and try to kill a Pasco deputy, a law enforcement officer in Tampa Bay, you're willing to hurt or kill anybody."

The detective involved in the shooting will be on paid administrative leave, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will handle the investigation.

Schools in the area were put on a brief "controlled campus status" out of an abundance of caution, PSO said.