Crime & Safety
Man Tasered After Punching Deputy in Arm, Authorities Say
The man, who had been stopped for a bike violation on 14th Street West in Bradenton, gave a false ID to deputies and had a warrant for his arrest out of California, according to the sheriff's office.
A man stopped by authorities for a bike violation was Tasered after he allegedly falsely identified himself, then punched a deputy in the arm early Wednesday in Bradenton.
James Rich was stopped by deputies around 12:30 a.m. in the 6200 block of 14th Street West. He originally identified himself as Jonathon Turner, but an ID check run by the deputies came up as Rich, 41, who had a warrant for his arrest out of California, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
As deputies attempted to arrest Rich, he broke free and punched a deputy in the arm, the sheriff's office reports. A backup deputy who was assisting in the arrest deployed his electronic control device, "striking the subject in the back and buttocks area," according to a sheriff's report.
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The man immediately complied without further incident, deputies said.
Neither the deputies nor Rich sustained any injuries.
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He was being held in Manatee County Jail on Wednesday on charges including battery on a law enforcement officer, online records show.
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