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© St. Petersburg Times, published September 2, 2002
Man accused of hitting deputy, police dog
HUDSON -- A Hudson man punched a deputy and a police dog after leading authorities on a short car chase, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office reported.
Deputies said they were investigating Bruce Edward Morgan, 30, of 12730 Circle Lake Drive in connection with a domestic dispute. Morgan drove away from a traffic stop on Mary Lou Drive and crashed after a brief chase, according to reports.
He ran from the crash and got caught in a fence, reports said. He then hit a deputy in the chest, repeatedly punched a Sheriff's Office police dog in the head, the reports say.
Before he was handcuffed, Morgan tried unsuccessfully to take away a deputy's gun, reports said.
Morgan faces charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, battery on a police dog, fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest with violence, attempting to deprive an officer of his means of protection, grand theft auto and possession of marijuana. He was held without bail in the county jail Sunday night.
A records check by deputies also found that Morgan was wanted in Hernando County on charges of armed trespassing and driving on a suspended license.