May 16, 2008
Brandon Haught
Public Information Office

DEPUTY BITTEN BY ALLIGATOR IN DELTONA 

 A Volusia County Sheriff's Office deputy was bitten by an alligator late Thursday night in Deltona. The deputy was flown by Sheriff's Office helicopter to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach to treat the wound he received to his leg. The injury was non-life threatening, and the deputy is in stable condition. Another deputy who was at the scene during the attack fired multiple gunshots at the animal, striking it but not killing it. The alligator was later captured by a trapper from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The Sheriff's Office received a call at approximately 10:14 p.m. about an alligator loose in the parking lot of Brightside Apartments, 111 Caribbean Street, Deltona. A resident reported it because of a concern for the safety of other residents, especially at night. Several deputies responded and found the alligator, but it became aggressive and lashed out, biting deputy Keith Baughman on the leg shortly before 10:42 p.m. Deputy Jason Stickels then fired multiple gunshots at the alligator, which was nearly eight feet long. There were no other injuries. Baughman, 39, has been with the Sheriff's Office since 2006. Stickels, 27, has been with the Sheriff's Office since 2004.