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Police say man used sword to threaten

 
Published March 20, 2001|Updated Sept. 9, 2005

A 59-year-old man faces charges of battery and aggravated assault after police say he threatened a man with a sword.

Derrell Leonard Thomas was arrested Sunday following an incident the day before at 833 Twigg St., just outside Brooksville, sheriff's reports said.

Witnesses told deputies that Thomas was sitting in his van Saturday night outside his house when Jerome Cook arrived with two other friends. When the three men walked to the front gate of the house, Thomas approached Cook and slapped his face three times, forcing him to the ground, and accused him of stealing $200.

The entire time, Thomas was holding a sword, which was 3- to 4-feet long with a silver blade and gold handle. Deputies found his van at the Shady Oaks Villa, where witnesses said his girlfriend lives, but Thomas was not there. Thomas called authorities the next day and arranged to meet deputies back at the Twigg address, where they arrested him. He was released Monday from Hernando County Jail on $500 bail.

Grand theft charges lodged against man

A Brooksville man was served with a warrant Saturday charging him with grand theft and felony fleeing and eluding police.

The charges against Seth Dominick Disanto, 19, 27135 Fernery Ave. in Hill 'n Dale, stemmed from an incident this month when Hernando County sheriff's deputies tried to stop him in a white Plymouth Neon that had been reported stolen. He fled police for about 200 yards near Fernery Avenue and Roper Road before jumping out of the car and running away, deputies say.

A police dog failed to find Disanto. About five minutes after the chase, police heard a gunshot in the direction where he ran.

A passenger in the Neon gave authorities Disanto's name and told them he was armed with a revolver. A woman answering the door at his address would not let deputies inside.

Disanto was served the warrant Saturday while sitting in Hernando County Jail on unrelated charges. He remained there Monday in lieu of $5,000 bail.