Calhoun County Man Arrested for Shooting at Deputies’ Vehicle

CALHOUN, Fla. (WMBB) – A man from Calhoun County is facing multiple charges after allegedly firing a firearm towards a Calhoun Sheriff’s Office vehicle on Friday night.

The incident took place around 10 p.m. when two deputies were patrolling Coley Road in Kinard, Florida. This particular area has been a frequent target of resident complaints, with many reports of drug-related activities occurring during the nighttime hours.

During their patrol, the deputies used a flashlight to observe any suspicious behaviour, which led to two gunshots being fired in the direction of their vehicle. The driver, identified as Philip Richard Quaglino, claimed that he was hunting possums and had fired his rifle in that direction, rather than towards the deputies.

Concerned for their safety, the deputies briefly left the area and later returned to find a white 2020 Chevy 2500 HD blocking a county-maintained road. Upon approaching the vehicle, they discovered multiple firearms, including a shotgun and a semi-automatic rifle.

When questioned again, Quaglino changed his story, stating that he was trying to address issues related to unknown vehicles and drug dealers in the area. The deputies also detected the smell of alcohol inside the vehicle, and Quaglino admitted to drinking before discharging his firearm.

As a result, Quaglino was promptly arrested and is now facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer, reckless discharge of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol, shooting towards a vehicle, and discharge of a firearm during the commission of a felony.