PAISLEY, Fla. – A deputy who pulled over a driver for running a stop sign in a stolen car shot the woman as she reached for a pocket where it turned out, she had a cellphone, the Lake County Sheriff's Office said.
The deputy was driving in Paisley at 12:20 a.m. Tuesday when the officer saw a car run a stop sign on Nancy Avenue. The officer turned around and followed the car, and the driver, Robin Pearson, 51, attempted to flee before pulling over, according to the report.
Pearson immediately got out of the car and approached the deputy, officials said.
"The deputy is giving her verbal commands to 'Step back get back in your car,' she did not comply. She started reaching to her pocket at which time the deputy based on what he said was in fear for his life and that's when he shot her," Sgt. Fred Jones, an LSCO spokeperson said.
"It's one of the worst-case scenarios," he said.
Pearson reached into her pocket and the deputy fired several shots, according to the report. Pearson was reaching for her cellphone when she was shot, the Sheriff's Office said.
Randy Redman was awakened by the deputy-involved shooting in his backyard.
"I don't want to start no trouble with her but she's lucky she's alive," he added. "You need to comply and that's a lot of problem with today no one is complying with cops. They don't even comply with parents but she is an older lady. She should have known," Redman said.
Randy Redman woke up to the deputy-involved shooting in his back yard. Taking us through where it happened. @news6wkmg pic.twitter.com/dSciwVxUtF
— Nadeen Yanes (@NadeenNews6) October 11, 2016
"I had seen her car in the front," Reman continued. "She was laying on the driver's side on the ground."
She was taken to a hospital in Sanford and was in stable condition.
Pearson, who authorities said has a lengthy criminal record, faces charges of grand theft and fleeing and attempting to elude an officer.
The deputy, a veteran of nearly 20 years, has been placed on administrative leave while the shooting is under review, which is standard procedure.
The Sheriff's Office said the deputy, who trains new hires, had never previously opened fire while on duty.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.