Man Attempted to Run Away then Punched Deputy to Avoid Arrest

The Flagler County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) responded to a weapons complaint at a home on Bird of Paradise Drive in Palm Coast on Friday night at 8 p.m. The reporting parties told deputies that when they arrived home there was a car in their driveway that they did not recognize. The driver was outside of the vehicle and the homeowners asked him to leave. One homeowner reported that the man pulled a pocket knife out and threatened him with it before driving away.

Deputies located the suspect vehicle and conducted a felony traffic stop. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as 29-year-old Anthony Michael Petrillo (DOB 8/17/1990). Petrillo was visibly irate and would not comply with verbal commands. Petrillo exited the vehicle and began yelling at deputies while pacing back and forth.

Deputies instructed Petrillo to walk backwards to them and upon getting close to deputies, Petrillo turned and faced deputies before attempting to run away. The ground was wet and Petrillo lost his footing. As a deputy approached Petrillo, Petrillo stood up and squared up to the deputy and threw two closed fist punches at the deputy, striking him in the chest and the abdomen.

The deputy bear hugged Petrillo and forced him to the ground in order to secure him in handcuffs. Paramedics then treated Petrillo for minor abrasions. Throughout the encounter, Petrillo remained irate, irrational, uncooperative and combative.