Gun Pulled On Woman After Car Crash, Deputies Say

SARASOTA, FL — A 25-year-old Parrish man faces charges after Sarasota County Sheriff’s deputies say he brandished a gun at a woman on Fruitville Road following a Tuesday morning incident on Interstate 75.

According to the sheriff’s office, Sandra Siligato called 911 around 6:30 a.m. Feb. 21 to report that she had been assaulted by a man at the intersection of Fruitville Road and Honore Avenue. The woman told deputies, a man she recognized from Interstate 75 followed her, boxed in her vehicle and then got out of his car. The man, Siligato told deputies, pointed a firearm at her and ordered her out of her vehicle.

“Siligato escaped by backing up and fleeing the scene westbound on Fruitville Road,” an arrest report said.

The man had also called 911 just before the incident at Fruitville Road and Honore Avenue occurred, the arrest report noted. He was reporting a traffic crash involving his vehicle and Siligato’s as he was following her.

Christopher Ruiz, the arrest report said, “called 911 and followed the victim until he saw an opportunity and pulled in front of the victim’s vehicle to block her. Still on the phone with 911, Ruiz removed his stored firearm from the center console of his vehicle and placed it in his pants pocket.”

Ruiz, deputies said, told Siligato she needed to wait for law enforcement.

Following the incident, Ruiz was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and false imprisonment. Deputies say he told them he was trying to scare Siligato.

An independent witness, the agency said, backed up Siligato's statement about being boxed in and having a gun pulled on her. Information about the traffic crash and the extent of damage is not available. It is unclear if any charges are pending from that incident.

Deputies say Ruiz had a semi-automatic .45 in his possession when they pulled him over.

Ruiz was being held without bond Tuesday. He has no prior arrests in Sarasota County, the agency noted.

Booking photo courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office