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Man Pulls Gun On Bail Bondsmen At Busy Pasco Office

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By LISA A. DAVIS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 8, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - The bondsmen got wind that John Edward Darlington was going to try to register his mother's truck on Tuesday.

So they waited outside the tax collector's office at 4720 U.S. 19 until they spotted Darlington about 1:30 p.m. and followed him inside, according to New Port Richey police Sgt. Steve Kostas. The two brothers from Help Bail Bonds of Clearwater approached Darlington in front of counter No. 8 in the middle of the busy office.

"You're under arrest," they reportedly told him, and that's when things went awry.

Darlington wasn't going without a fight, police said, and he pulled out a .380-caliber, semi-automatic handgun and tried to load it.

Bondsmen David and Donald Lowman tackled the man as customers and employees began to realize what was going on.

Kathy Wingard heard someone say "He's got a gun!" as she waited to inquire about repossessing a car. "Everybody started hitting the floor," she said.

Not Wingard, who stayed still at first and watched those who didn't drop run away.

"They were taking off out the front door," the 57-year-old from Hudson said shortly after the incident, while still waiting her turn to be served.

Customer service specialist Cheri Anderson was sitting at the front desk when she saw the commotion. When she heard "gun" she dropped to the floor while trying to dial 911 but somehow missed the nine.

Philip Mayo, 61, of New Port Richey was sitting in the lobby with his customer number in hand, waiting to be called to register his new truck.

"I was sitting to the right of them when all hell broke loose and the chairs started flying," he said while holding his new tag outside the office afterward.

Mayo jumped up, then spotted the gun in Darlington's hand. One of the bondsmen asked Mayo to retrieve his handcuffs, which went flying in the scuffle.

Mayo grabbed them and tried to step on the downed suspect's right wrist — he held the weapon in that hand — but couldn't get the proper footing.

"When they had him down that gun was pointed toward the clerks, but most of them had run away," Mayo said.

While the Lowmans struggled with Darlington, Mayo managed to get one handcuff around the man's wrist and then the other.

"I tightened them up real good," Mayo said.

It wasn't immediately clear why the bondsmen wanted to apprehend Darlington. In Florida, bondsmen have arrest powers when necessary.

Police Lt. Scott Baker said Darlington's mother had requested that the bond be withdrawn, but it wasn't clear whether he committed an offense while out of jail or if she simply wanted her money back. She told the bondsmen her son had stolen the truck, but Baker said she hadn't reported it stolen as of Tuesday afternoon.

It also wasn't clear why the bondsmen chose to confront Darlington in a public place or why they didn't at least wait until he had finished his business and left the building.

"It wasn't a good tactic," said police Detective Randy Murphy.

If they had waited, Baker said later, the apprehension would have been much safer.

David Lowman said he was "surprised the guy pulled a weapon on us in a public place." He and his brother didn't comment further.

Darlington was treated by paramedics for cuts on his face from being taken to the ground. He was driven to the New Port Richey police station for further questioning before being booked into the Land O' Lakes Jail.

His most recent arrests were in Pinellas County in September and August on charges of grand theft. Darlington, 45, of 5123 Darlington Road, Holiday, now faces charges of aggravated assault, felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, improper display of a firearm and grand theft.

The grand theft stems from police having learned that the gun Darlington had Tuesday was reported stolen from somewhere in Pasco County, Baker said.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com.

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