Man Who Threatened ‘Shoot Out’ With Deputies Captured

Pasco County, FL — The manhunt that led to the closing of State Road 52 for several hours Thursday night has ended with the arrest of the suspect in the case.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office announced just before 11:30 a.m. Friday that Brandon Goggins was officially in custody. He was captured in a swamp area near State Road 52 Friday morning, the agency said.

“Citizens in the area noticed him come out of the swamp and called 911,” the agency reported via email. “Deputies in the area who were searching for him quickly converged and took him into custody.”

The sheriff’s office on Friday also released more details about the woman who was driving the car Goggins was in Thursday afternoon before the manhunt began.

According to the agency, Vicki Lee Valentin, 40, of Hudson was behind the 2009 BMW Goggins was in before he escaped into woods near Safety Town on State Road 52. At present, Valentin has been charged with driving on a suspended license. She is considered a habitual offender, with four previous convictions for driving on a suspended license, the agency noted in an arrest report.

Valentin was brought into custody after a vehicle pursuit of the car she was driving ended and Goggins bailed out of the car on foot, the agency said. She reportedly told deputies Goggins was armed when he got out of the car and promised that he was “going to shoot it out with law enforcement,” Sheriff Chris Nocco said in a Thursday news conference.

The search for Goggins forced the closing of State Road 52 from the Suncoast Parkway to Hayes Road for several hours Thursday. The search continued Friday morning, but the road was made available to motorists.

Goggins had multiple warrants out for his arrest on charges including grand theft auto.

Valentin remained in the Land O' Lakes Jail Friday in lieu of $5,000 bond.

Photos courtesy of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office