Handcuffed Man Dragged Deputy 49 Feet: Hillsborough County Sheriff

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — A wanted man fought and hid from a deputy who was serving him a warrant for his arrest Wednesday night, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office news release.

“When two deputies tried to safely arrest a criminal who had a warrant for his arrest, the man thought he would have better odds fighting our deputies and running away,” the agency wrote in a Facebook post.

Now, Keon Hodge, 28, faces multiple charges, including battery on a law enforcement officer, three counts of resisting an officer with violence, prisoner escape or attempt to escape, criminal mischief of $1,000 or more, burglary of an unoccupied structure, trespass on property other than a structure or conveyance, and arrest on failure to obey written promise to appear.

When deputies first contacted Hodge near 10808 E. U.S. Highway 92 at 7:15 p.m., he pulled away and resisted, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies used a single drive stun, followed by a second Taser on him; both were "ineffective," HCSO said.

With one handcuff on him, Hodge dragged a deputy about 49 feet and ran west on foot.

The Aviation Unit spotted him in a nearby business trying to remove the handcuff from his wrist before hiding himself in a storage container, the agency said.

Minutes later, K9 units and patrol deputies found Hodge hiding behind a hot water heater.

"When it comes to teamwork, it couldn't be better displayed than what these deputies showed," Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "After this man violently rejected the first attempt at his arrest, he now will face additional consequences for his despicable actions."