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Man arrested, another sought after shot fired at deputy

Staff photo by RUGENE MOORE

Deputies discuss the shooting as they stand in front of the cruiser that was struck by a bullet in its windshield, just above the rearview mirror.

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TBO.com

Published: November 13, 2009

Updated: 11/13/2009 04:58 pm

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• Photos from the scene

Jeffrey Ervin (2008 photo)

TAMPA - One person is in custody and authorities are searching for a second suspect after a gunman opened fire on a Hillsborough County deputy this morning.

Paulo Santos-Rizzo, a three-year veteran with the sheriff's office, was in his patrol car establishing a perimeter about 4 a.m. as other deputies investigated a report of two people breaking into cars at Shadow Oaks Apartments, 13901 N. Florida Ave., spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

A canine handler spotted a suspect next to a van at 13621 N. Florida Ave. Deputies told him to stop, and he fled and fired a shot. A bullet struck the windshield of Santos-Rizzo's cruiser and just missed the deputy's head, Maj. J.R. Burton said.

Santos-Rizzo suffered minor injuries from flying glass. He was treated at the scene and should be fine, Carter said.

Santos-Rizzo, 30, did not return fire. Authorities searched for the suspects, and a police dog found Jeffrey Lee Ervin, 21, hiding behind a home on Capital Drive, Carter said. Ervin had a gun, and the dog bit him in the right bicep and left leg.

Ervin has been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and one count each of obstructing or opposing an officer with violence, carrying a concealed firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

His last arrest was in July 2008, when he was charged with aggravated assault with a pellet gun, according to jail records. The arrest violated his probation.

He was previously charged with armed carjacking, robbery and possession of marijuana.

He is on probation until January 2012, according to Florida Department of Corrections records.

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