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St. Pete Beach man accused of striking deputy in the face

 
Published Jan. 15, 2014

A St. Pete Beach man tried to steer his girlfriend's car off the road and later tased a deputy in the face during a series of encounters Sunday night, Pinellas sheriff's deputies said.

Arrest affidavits state that about 11:15 p.m. Sunday, Jeffrey K. Villarreal, 39, argued with his girlfriend, Alyssa Allamong, while she drove him home. As they argued near Blind Pass Road and 87th Avenue, Villarreal grabbed the steering wheel and jerked it to the right, causing the vehicle to swerve off the road and hit a light pole.

Villarreal left the car, and his girlfriend, on the side of the road, deputies said.

Allamong reported the incident to deputies and later asked them to escort her back to Villarreal's home so she could retrieve a few belongings. In arrest affidavits, the deputies describe what happened next like this:

About 1:20 a.m. Monday, Allamong walked into Villarreal's home on Blind Pass Road and screamed. Villarreal tried to slam the door on deputies once Allamong was inside, striking Sgt. Kelly Bush in the knee with the door. She and Deputy Jason Ellis struggled with Villarreal, who punched Ellis, grabbed his knees and brought him to the ground.

Villarreal then grabbed Ellis's Taser and struck Bush in the face with the weapon before punching her several times.

The deputies managed to subdue Villarreal. He was charged with depriving an officer with a means of protection or communication, three charges of battery of a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, two charges of resisting an officer with violence, false imprisonment and criminal mischief.

He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail, where he remained Tuesday in lieu of $82,000 bail.

CORRECTION: Villarreal is accused of striking Bush in the face with a Taser. Earlier versions of this story appearing in print and online gave an incorrect description of the alleged attack.