Deputy Attacked After Traffic Stop Makes Arrest Anyway

LARGO, FL — A 32-year-old Cape Coral man and a Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputy both took a trip to a local hospital after a Thursday night traffic stop took a violent turn.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Richard Curry, 29, was patrolling in the Largo area around 7:15 p.m. Feb. 9 when he saw a 2004 Toyota SUV fail to stop at the intersection of 134th Avenue North and Trotter Road. Curry flipped on his emergency lights, an email from the sheriff’s office said, and tried to stop the Toyota.

The driver of the Toyota kept going north at the speed limit on Trotter Road, the email said. As Curry followed behind the SUV, he noticed the male driver “moving around inside the vehicle, and reaching towards the glove box,” the email said.

The Toyota’s driver, Stephen Anthony Kunkler, did pull over in the 2600 block of Dryer Avenue, the sheriff’s office said.

After Kunkler pulled over, he got out of the SUV and would not give Curry his identification, the sheriff’s office said. Kunkler is then accused of taking a defensive posture and stepping backwards, “as if he was going to flee from the scene,” the email said.

Curry told Kunkler to stop, but the sheriff’s office said he refused to comply. At that point, Curry deployed his taser, but it had no effect. Kunkler ran from the scene, but Curry gave chase, the email said.

“When Deputy Curry grabbed Kunkler in the backyard of a nearby residence, Kunkler aggressively resisted and struck the deputy multiple times with his elbow, his feet, and his fists,” the email said.

After about two minutes of fighting, during which time Kunkler is accused of trying to reach for his waistband, Curry and other deputies were able to subdue and handcuff him.

After Kunkler’s arrest, deputies found a 9mm handgun on the ground, the email said. Kunkler has a concealed weapons permit, the agency noted, and was in legal possession of the gun.

Both Curry and Kunkler suffered minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital, the sheriff’s office said. Kunkler was ultimately charged with four counts of resisting arrest with violence, and one count each of fleeing and eluding and battery on a law enforcement officer.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office