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With deputies outside, agitated man fires gun
By MATTHEW WAITE, Times Staff Writer
NEW PORT RICHEY -- With a little more than an hour until the new year, two Pasco County sheriff's deputies had a close call when a man threatening to kill himself fired several shots from a BB gun through the door of his mobile home. Deputy Robert MacFarlane was called to the Floridian Mobile Home Park, 5018 Sleighbell Lane, at 10:45 p.m. New Year's Eve. The owner of the park called sheriff's deputies when a man told her that Mark Jundt, 45, had threatened suicide. According to MacFarlane's report, Jundt told him to "get the hell out of here" when MacFarlane identified himself. Then, MacFarlane wrote, Jundt threatened to shoot him through the door with a 9mm handgun. MacFarlane backed off and called for backup, the report said. When several deputies arrived, Sgt. Kurt Gell went up to the mobile home to talk to Jundt. MacFarlane wrote that while Gell talked with Jundt, he thought he heard a gunshot, then a ricochet behind him. Gell continued to talk to Jundt, and MacFarlane said he heard two more shots. Then, Gell and Sgt. Erik Anthes broke in the door, went into the home and arrested Jundt. Jundt was taken to Community Hospital, where deputies were told by hospital staff that Jundt had alcohol and cocaine in his system. Jundt was then taken to the Harbors under the state's Baker Act. The Baker Act empowers police to commit for a mental evaluation people who appear likely to harm themselves or others because of mental illness. The case has been referred to the Pasco-Pinellas State Attorney to determine whether charges will be filed. For Gell, 52, the incident was another close call. In April 26, 1979, then-deputy Gell was shot in the stomach and chest while responding to a report of a hostage situation at a Hudson home. He was later credited by former Sheriff John Short with saving the lives of the woman and child being held hostage. -- Matthew Waite can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6247, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6247. His e-mail address is waite@sptimes.com .
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