Valrico man accused of firing assault rifle at deputies

VALRICO — A man was arrested early Friday after he fired dozens of rounds from an assault rifle at deputies who came to his home on a domestic violence call, Hillsborough sheriff's officials said.

Two deputies arrived at 4110 Silver Lane about 1 a.m. after Krystal Register called 911 to report her boyfriend had hit her and forced her to leave the house during an argument.

The deputies tried to talk with Allen Harmeyer, Register's boyfriend, in the front doorway of the home.

But Harmeyer emerged with a pit bull, which he pushed toward the deputies "in an aggressive manner," said Sheriff's Office spokesman Larry McKinnon.

The deputies were forced to walk back, McKinnon said. When they pulled out Tasers, Harmeyer, 45, stormed inside the house.

"I've got something for you!" he is said to have shouted at them.

The deputies retreated, McKinnon said.

Minutes later, just before three other deputies arrived, Harmeyer emerged again, this time carrying an AK-47 style assault rifle, McKinnon said.

He fired an entire 30-round magazine at the deputies, McKinnon said.

The deputy closest to the house fired back, forcing Harmeyer inside. Moments later, he surrendered and was arrested.

Upon searching his home, deputies recovered about 1,000 rounds of ammunition and several firearms. McKinnon said the collection was "not unusual."

"A lot of people have that type of collection in their houses," McKinnon said. "It's just unfortunate when one person uses it in a wrong manner."

Neither the deputies nor Harmeyer were injured, but two marked patrol cars had about $5,000 in damage from the gunfire. Register, 34, was treated at the scene for minor bumps and bruises sustained during her argument with Harmeyer.

In Florida, Harmeyer's criminal record includes a six-month probation sentence for a resisting an officer without violence charge in 1991, state records show. A domestic violence injunction was granted against Harmeyer in August 2004 by Jocelyn Harmeyer, county records show. The couple married in August 2003 and divorced in November 2004.

Harmeyer faces five counts of aggravated assault on an officer, as well as attempted murder on an officer and domestic battery charges. He was booked into the Hillsborough County jail, where he remained Friday without bail.

Staff researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Laura C. Morel can be reached at (727)893-8713, or lmorel@tampabay.com.