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2nd suspect arrested in Hillsborough deputy shooting case

Staff photo by CHIP OSOWSKI

The shooting happened Oct. 13 at Country Square Apartments, 4329 Country Square Court, off West Waters Avenue.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 28, 2009

Updated: 10/28/2009 12:40 pm

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Victor Maldonado

Michael Serrano

TAMPA - A second suspect has been arrested in a home invasion-robbery in which a sheriff's deputy was shot in the neck.

Victor Manuel Maldonado, 24, was arrested about 8:15 a.m. today at the Salvation Army Probation office, 1603 N. Florida Ave., the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies say Maldonado wasn't involved in the shooting but was at the apartment during the home invasion. He faces charges of armed burglary, battery and armed robbery, and is being held at Orient Road Jail.

Deputy Miguel Galarza was shot Oct. 13 while responding to a 911 call at a Town 'N Country apartment. The bullet missed his spinal cord by about 1½ inches. Galarza is expected to return to duty this week.

Miguel Serrano, 28, was arrested shortly after the shooting. He is being held without bail on charges of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and robbery-home invasion.

Investigators say Galarza confronted Serrano at the apartment's door and heard moans and a disturbance inside. He ordered Serrano to the ground and there was a struggle. Galarza saw Serrano reach into his pants for a gun and remembers him pointing the weapon and firing, authorities say. Galarza fired one round and fell to the floor.

Investigators are awaiting ballistics tests to determine whether the bullet that struck Galarza came from his weapon or the gun taken from Serrano.

Maldonado was released from prison in October 2003 after serving about two years for cocaine trafficking and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, records show.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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