Manatee Detective Struck By Van; Second Officer Opens Fire

BRADENTON, FL — A Manatee County Sheriff's Office detective was struck by a Toyota van and a second officer opened fire Sunday night, according to the sheriff's office. No one was injured during the incident.

A spokesperson for the sheriff's office said the driver failed to obey commands to show detectives his hands and drove toward a second detective, who opened fire.

"As the suspect was about to strike that detective, he fired two rounds at the driver and jumped out of the way of the moving van," the spokesperson explained.

The incident occurred shortly after 9 p.m. in the 600 block of 33rd Ave East in Bradenton. The detectives were part of a Violent Crimes Task Force that was attempting to serve a warrant on the registered owner of the vehicle, who not there at the time.

The registered owner was identified as 50-year-old Barry Gardner. He later told the sheriff's office that he loaned his vehicle to another man identified as 30-year-old Joseph Lloyd Hanold

"All three detectives were wearing body armor with the word 'SHERIFF' across the front with silver bold lettering and walked up to the parked vehicle," the spokesperson said.

Hanold allegedly fled the area heading eastbound. Deputies later located Barry Gardner at a residence in the 1600 block of 53rd Ave E and arrested him on the outstanding warrant.

"At 11:35 pm, information was obtained on the whereabouts of the van near the Moose Lodge. Hanold was located and arrested without incident," the spokesperson said. "He is charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer."

The vehicle had been left running in a field.

"One bullet hole was located in the center of the windshield and appeared to enter the dashboard," the spokesperson said. "The suspect was not hit by the detective’s gunfire and was uninjured in the incident."

An internal investigation into the police-involved shooting is underway.