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Fleeing Driver Uses Bystander as Shield
9 Jun
Summary
- Suspect used a bystander as a human shield during a chase.
- A PIT maneuver by a trooper ended the vehicle pursuit.
- The suspect had an active warrant before the chase began.
A vehicle pursuit through Kissimmee escalated when the fleeing suspect, Michael Deregla, used an uninvolved bystander as a human shield. Deregla, who had an active warrant, led deputies on a multi-mile chase on May 26. He drove aggressively, violating traffic laws and traveling against oncoming traffic, posing a significant risk to motorists and pedestrians.
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office tracked Deregla's vehicle before a Florida Highway Patrol trooper intervened. The trooper successfully executed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver, bringing the suspect's vehicle to a stop. Following the vehicle's halt, Deregla exited and attempted to flee on foot, subsequently grabbing a bystander.
Fortunately, the bystander sustained no serious injuries. Deregla was taken into custody without further incident. This event underscores the severe dangers inherent in vehicle pursuits, particularly when suspects employ tactics that endanger the public and involve innocent civilians.
