Deputy struck by vehicle of fleeing attempted burglary suspects in Crystal River, FL
CCSO mugshots: Arnow on left; Delmar on right.
Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO)
Shortly before 11:00 pm on Friday night, August 11, 2023, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a possible burglary in progress. Deputies responded to the reported location, a business on West Cedar Street in Crystal River, Florida, where they encountered two people, a man and a woman, attempting to load wood onto a trailer.
The two people were later identified as Wyatt Morgan Arnow, age 25, and Kelly Jean Delmar, age 26, both of Fort McCoy, Florida. The two initially refused to provide deputies with their pesonal identification information or give them an explanation as to why they were on the premises.
When deputies attempted to detain them, Arnow got into a physical altercation with deputies, then took off running, while Delmar returned to a parked vehicle with an attached trailer. Delmar began driving the vehicle and accelerated it as she drove toward deputies. One deputy narrowly avoided being struck by the vehicle, but the second deputy was struck by it. Fortunately, the deputy was not seriously injured.
After striking the deputy, Delmar briefly stopped the vehicle to pick up Arnow, then drove away from the business, leading deputies on a brief pursuit before the chase came to an abrupt end when Delmar crashed the vehicle into a tree near the intersection of West Balloon Lane and North Turkey Oak Drive.
Delmar was immediately taken into custody. However, Arnow again resisted deputies who were assisted by K-9 (canine) Ranger to take him into custody. Arnow was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment before being placed under arrest, and he was then transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility in Lecanto, Florida where Delmar had earlier been incarcerated.
Inside the suspects' vehicle, deputies seized a trafficking amount of fentanyl and also found drug paraphernalia.
Delmar was charged with two counts of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, trafficking in fentanyl, and possession of drug paraphernalia ($61,000 bond).
Arnow was charged with two counts of battery of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest without violence, fleeing from and eluding law enforcement officers, and driving while license suspended - first offense ($13,500 bond).
"The deputies involved in the incident displayed remarkable dedication and courage in their efforts in apprehending these two suspects," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "I commend their swift and effective response to this challenging situation. This incident serves as a remnder of the risks law enforcement officers face while protecting our community and unholding the law. We remain committed to maintaining the safety and security of our community and will continue to work diligently for such."