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Pinellas Sheriff: Deputy Shoots Man Who Pointed Gun at Him

BobGualtieri|PinellasSheriff|Deputy InvolvedShooting

The man has been hospitalized. The deputy was not injured, according to the Pinellas sheriff.

DUNEDIN – A man was hospitalized after a deputy shot him Friday (Jan. 20), the Pinellas Sheriff’s Office said.

Todd Charles Rowe, 47, of  2249 Curlew Ave., Apt. C, in the unincorporated Dunedin area, was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa with non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies said Rowe, who has an extensive criminal history with at least one arrest involving a firearm, will be charged with one count of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.

The deputy, who was not injured, will be placed on routine, paid administrative leave.

Deputies answered a call about 6 p.m. to a home at 2249 Curlew Ave. in unincorporated Dunedin for reports of gun shots heard by neighbors. When deputies arrived, they spoke with a witness who saw a man with a gun walking between the houses at 2253 and 2249 Curlew. Deputies said witnesses also told them that they heard what they thought was the sound of a gunshot behind the house at 2249 Curlew.

Deputy Christopher Lyons approached the east side of the house at 2249 Curlew to try to find the armed man. Deputies said Lyons went into the backyard when he saw Todd Rowe leave the southeast side of the house with a handgun.

Deputies said Lyons told Rowe several times to drop the gun several times. Rowe would not follow commands to drop the gun and pointed the gun at Lyons. When Lyons moved to seek cover, deputies said, Rowe tracked Lyons with his firearm.

Lyons, who, deputies said, feared for his safety, fired five rounds from his department-issued handgun striking Rowe once in the neck.

For a video of Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri’s press conference, go to youtube.com.

For information about the Pinellas sheriff, go to pcsoweb.com.

Photo, taken from video, shows Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri demonstrating how, he said, Todd Charles Rowe “tracked” the deputy with a handgun just before the shooting. Video courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Pinellas Sheriff | Deputy-Involved Shooting | Suspect Shot | Crime | Arrests | TB Reporter

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