A Florida fugitive wanted for crimes including grand theft auto and resisting arrest was filmed pointing a gun at a sheriff’s deputy who was trying to arrest him and then choked and bit his K-9 while refusing to be detained.
Branden Anthony Richter, 33, of Belleview was taken into custody by Marion County Sheriff’s deputies last Tuesday, March 16.
Deputies responded to a report that Richter, who had several outstanding warrants for his arrest, was spotted in the backyard of a home.
Body cam footage released by Marion County Sheriff’s Office shows one deputy, K-9 Corporal Branden Donahue giving chase on foot alongside his partner, Scout.
Richter, who is alleged to have a history of running from deputies, is seen in the video fleeing as Donahue and Scout give chase.
‘Sheriff’s office, let me see your hands! Do not move!’ Donahue is heard yelling at Richter.
Authorities in North Central Florida released body cam video filmed by Marion County Sheriff’s deputies showing the March 16 arrest of Branden Anthony Richter, 33, who was taken into custody in Belleview, Florida (above)
During a struggle that lasted several minutes, Richter pointed a 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun at Marion County Sheriff’s Corporal Branden Donahue
During the struggle, Richter is seen choking and biting the ear of Donahue’s K-9 partner, Scout
Branden Anthony Richter (left), 33, of Belleview, Florida, was booked into Marion County Jail in Ocala, Florida on March 16. The K-9, Scout (seen right in the file photo), was treated for his injuries and is doing fine
Donahue warns Richter that he would unleash Scout if he didn’t stop.
Video shows Donahue letting go of the leash, allowing Scout to leap run and leap toward Richter.
Scout appears to bite Richter, who then wrestles with the dog during a struggle on the ground.
‘No, no, no,’ Richter is heard screaming as the dog appears to grab hold of him in the chest area.
‘Put your hands behind your back,’ Donahue orders Richter as the dog maintains a hold of him.
In the image above, Richter is spotted by the deputy, Donahue, and his K-9 partner, Scout
Richter starts to flee on foot as Donahue and Scout give chase
Donahue releases the grip from the leash and sics Scout on Richter
‘Put your hands behind your back and then I’ll take the dog off of you,’ the deputy tells Richter.
It then appears that Richter takes hold of Scout, prompting Donahue to order him: ‘Let go of my dog!’
‘Please make him stop,’ Richter replies.
When Donahue repeats his order for Richter to let go of Scout, Richter replies: ‘I can’t. My fingers are caught in the leash.’
‘Make him stop! Stop! Please! It’s in the leash,’ Richter pleads with Donahue.
‘Let go of him,’ Donahue tells Richter again.
‘I can’t!’ Richter replies.
‘Yes, you can,’ the deputy answers.
‘[My fingers] are in the leash!’ Richter says.
Donahue then orders Richter to show his hands. At this point, video shows Richter pointing a 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun at Donahue.
A struggle ensues and Donahue repeatedly orders Richter to drop the gun.
‘Get your f*****g dog off me, dude,’ Richter tells Donahue.
Donahue then replies: ‘Drop the gun, man! Drop the f*****g gun!’
The struggle continues for about four more minutes as Richter appears to be resisting Donahue’s efforts to take him into custody.
As Richter appears to disobey Donahue’s orders to drop the gun, the dog can be heard moaning.
Scout is seen above lunging at Richter as Donahue gives chase just a few feet behind
Scout tackles Richter to the ground and appears to be grasp the suspect in the region of his torso
The image above shows Scout wrestling with Richter on the ground
During the struggle, it appears Richter grabs hold of Scout and refuses to let go
Donahue continues to insist that Richter drop the gun, while Richter begs the deputy to let him go.
Donahue is then heard telling Richter: ‘Stop biting me!’
A caption on the police body cam video reads: ‘Richter starts biting K-9 Cpl. Donahue on his hand and arm.’
As the struggle continues, the dog can be heard groaning as he apparently becomes lodged between the deputy and the suspect.
‘Let go of me,’ Richter can be heard saying.
‘I don’t want to hurt you anymore,’ the deputy replies.
At this point, Richter allegedly starts choking Scout.
‘Stop trying to choke him!’ Donahue tells Richter.
Moments later, Richter lets out a loud scream as the scuffle continues.
Finally, Donahue is able to remove the gun from Richter’s possession.
Video released by MCSO then shows body cam footage filmed by Corporal John Remington, who arrives on the scene to assist Donahue.
From the vantage point of Remington’s body cam, Donahue is seen on top of Richter as the suspect lay with his back to the ground.
For several minutes, Richter refuses to let go of Scout and to drop the weapon
Richter claims that his hand was caught in Scout’s leash, preventing him from letting go
During one sequence in the scuffle, Scout is heard in the video groaning and growling
The image above shows Richter grabbing onto the dog while Donahue attempts to get him to drop the gun
‘Let me go!’ Richter is heard pleading with Donahue.
Moments later, another deputy who was identified as Deputy Richard Truman is seen arriving to assist the two law enforcement officers.
As Richter is placed under arrest, Remington orders him to turn over on his stomach.
But Richter still has hold of Scout.
‘Let go of the dog!’ Donahue orders Richter.
At this point, Richter is seen biting Scout’s ear.
‘Stop biting his ear!’ one of the deputies yells at Richter.
As Richter bites down on Scout’s ear, Truman appears to throw a punch at the suspect.
The deputies manage to extricate Scout from Richter’s grasp. Richter at this point is told repeatedly to lay down on his stomach and stop resisting arrest.
Deputies said that they were forced to resort to use of a Taser in order to finally subdue Richter.
MCSO said that all of the deputies as well as Scout were treated for their injuries and are ‘doing fine.’
Richter faces a litany of charges, including two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer; battery on a police K-9; aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony; and possession of a firearm with an altered serial number.
Another deputy arrives and finds Donahue struggling with Richter, who is lying on the ground
Donahue responded to 8844 SE 126th Place in Belleview, where Richter, who was wanted for grand theft auto, was located on March 16. The image above was taken from the body cam of Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy Corporal John Remington. It shows a third deputy who responded to the scene, Richard Truman
During the scuffle which lasted several minutes, Donahue was finally able to remove the gun from Richter’s hand after Richter refused repeated orders to drop the weapon
Donahue is seen above tending to Scout after Richter was finally taken into custody
Those charges will be added to the ones listed on his outstanding warrant which include felony order to revoke bond on grand theft auto and resisting arrest as well as two misdemeanor warrants for resisting arrest.
Richter was booked last Tuesday at Marion County Jail in Ocala, Florida, which lies about 40 miles south of Gainesville.
