SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – A man who ran from authorities during a traffic stop Saturday has been arrested, investigators said.
Rocky Money Rudolph Jr., 38, now faces charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement official and aggravated assault after he dragged a Seminole County deputy toward I-4.
Deputies arrested Rudolph after he was found inside a car driving along Lake Mary Boulevard around 5 p.m. Deputies say they believe the car was driven by his daughter.
“This was a very dangerous situation,” Lemma said. “Our deputy could have been killed.”
Rudolph temporarily stopped the SUV, but continued to ignore the deputy's commands to show his hands and to put his vehicle in park.
On two occasions during the traffic stop, Deputy Aaron Blais was dragged toward Interstate 4, Lemma said.
Blais then fired his weapon in an attempt to avoid being seriously injured or killed.
"Rudolph reaches toward the gun hand of Deputy Blais, and actually holds him there and drives at least 100 yards heading toward I-4 before Deputy Blais falls off the car and into the median," Sheriff Dennis Lemma said.
Blais was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and was later released.
Earlier in the day, officials said they were actively searching for Rudolph, who was believed to be dangerous.
During the traffic stop Saturday morning, Rudolph ran from the deputy after he abandoned his SUV and a significant search followed involving multiple law enforcement agencies in the International Boulevard area.
The Seminole County Sheriff's Office asked community members to avoid the area if possible.
Rudolph was convicted in 2002 of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, high-speed fleeing and possession of marijuana, and deputies said Rudolph has been charged with more than 30 felonies over the years.
Rudolph suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and was transported to a local hospital. Once Rudolph is released, officials say he will be booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility on multiple charges.
When authorities looked inside the suspect’s SUV, they found a handgun reported stolen out of Seminole County in 2016.
Stay with News 6 as the story unfolds.