Holiday Man Pepper Sprayed After Resisting Arrest

HOLIDAY, FL – A Holiday man is in custody after resisting arrest, forcing a Pasco County Sheriff’s deputy to subdue him with pepper spray.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were investigating the illegal discharge of a firearm in the neighborhood Tuesday, Dec. 19, around 10 p.m.. While deputies were interviewing a witness, Robert J. Parziale, 28, of 3553 Calera Drive, Holiday, yelled to the witness to “watch what she told the cops.”

Because Parziale’s comments were impeding the investigation, the deputies arrested, handcuffed and placed him in the back of a cruiser. While waiting to be transported for booking, Parziale reportedly “jumped the cuffs.” When a deputy took him out of the cruiser to replace the handcuffs behind his back, Parziale reportedly began cursing and struggling with the deputy who tried to subdue him with pepper spray. At that point, according to deputies, Parziale became violent. He grabbed the deputy by the throat and attempted to gouge out his eye. Deputies were finally able to subdue him.

He’s been charged with resisting an officer with violence and obstructing an investigation, and is in the Land O' Lakes Detention Center on a $2,500 bond. He has previous arrests for battery and criminal mischief.

Photo via Pasco County Sheriff's Office