Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Florida Gas Station Theft Leads to Lengthy Standoff Between Armed Suspect and Deputies

A small theft at a gas station in Florida escalated into a prolonged standoff between an armed suspect and multiple deputies, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office. The incident, which was prompted by the theft of cigarettes, unfolded over several hours on December 20th.

The ordeal began when a Wawa employee contacted the sheriff’s office to report a suspected shoplifter at the Deltona gas station. The suspect had allegedly grabbed cigarettes from behind the cashier counter and was armed with a knife.

Upon the arrival of deputies, the suspect fled the scene in his vehicle. Despite efforts to apprehend him, including deflating his tires, the suspect slowly drove back to his home and refused to surrender.

During the standoff, the suspect opened fire on the deputies from his car, resulting in a bullet grazing one deputy’s face and another deputy being hit by glass fragments. Fortunately, a deputy’s life was saved when a bullet struck the glass of a barricade shield.

Authorities used a SWAT truck to reposition the suspect’s vehicle into his garage, preventing him from escaping. However, negotiations failed as the suspect set fires inside the garage and eventually crawled into the attic before falling inside his home.

Despite the presence of his family, who were later evacuated, the suspect’s behavior was described as “extremely erratic.” The family had attempted to hide his firearms, but he still managed to keep a revolver in his possession.

The suspect, identified as Dempsey Hadley, was a former employee of Deland, where he had worked since 1988. His vehicle caught fire at some point during the incident, causing the blaze to spread throughout the house. Ammunition in the home caused explosions, intensifying the inferno.

Throughout the standoff, Hadley alternated between the inside of the house and a second-floor balcony, repeatedly refusing to surrender. At times, deputies believed he had succumbed to the thick smoke and flames.

Eventually, deputies brought down the back porch, causing Hadley to crash to the ground and allowing them to take him into custody. During the arrest, Hadley sustained injuries from a K-9 unit that bit him when he refused to remove his hands from his pocket.

The deputy who was grazed by a bullet was discharged from the hospital on the same day. Sheriff Michael Chitwood characterized the resolution of the standoff as a successful end to a long and challenging night.

The incident took place in Deltona, located approximately 30 miles northeast of Orlando.

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