One of the suspects kicked a patrol car door so hard that it bowed the door away from the frame, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – A man and woman from Gibsonton have been arrested and charged with violently resisting arrest and battering deputies, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.

Ellen Pride, 24, is charged with one count of escape from law enforcement custody and two counts each of resisting a law enforcement officer with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer. Alexander Roque, 19, was charged with two counts each of resisting an officer with violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, and corruption by threat against public servant. Roque was also charged with one count each of grand theft motor vehicle and driving with license cancelled, suspended, or revoked. Both are from Gibsonton.

About 3:30 p.m. Thursday (March 8), a deputy saw a black 2000 Dodge Durango drive into the Joy Food Store at 10810 U.S. 41 S in Gibsonton. The deputy said he recognized Roque, who was driving, and knew there was an order that he be picked up on charges of grand theft auto and no valid drivers license. The deputy radioed for assistance.

The deputy went into the Joy Food Store and told Roque to place his hands behind his back. Roque resisted the deputy’s efforts to put handcuffs on him. At around the same time, a detective entered the convenience store and helped the first deputy take Roque into custody.

While deputies were placing Roque into custody, they said Pride was trying to reach into Roque’s front left pocket. Another deputy, seeing Pride’s actions tried to take her into custody. Pride pulled away from the deputy.

Roque was placed into a marked patrol unit where he continued to kick and make threats to fight and kill the deputies. Deputies said Roque continued to kick the doors with enough force to cause the upper portion of the door to bow away from the frame. Roque had to be taken out of the car and put into leg shackles for his own safety, deputies said.

While waiting for a a marked unit to transport Pride, Pride was yelling and attempting to pull away from the deputy. Deputies said Pride managed to pull her right hand free from the handcuffs. Pride bent down and proceeded to bite the deputy through his uniform pants and broke the skin. The deputy handcuffed her a second time.

The deputy went to a hospital where he was treated and released. He is back on duty.

Photo shows Ellen Pride, left, and Alexander Roque.

Hillsborough Sheriff | Crime | Resisting Arrest | Arrests | Tampabay News

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