Driver charged with assault of deputy

A Largo man with a gun confronts an off-duty sheriff's deputy in a parking lot. The man was arrested at home.

By CHRIS TISCH
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 24, 2001

LARGO -- Joshua Lamoureux told police that he planned to apply for a deputy job at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

But the 26-year-old Largo resident probably didn't help his chances Saturday morning when, police say, he cut off a motorist, then armed himself with a handgun and threatened the other driver.

That other driver was off-duty Pinellas sheriff's deputy Billy Jo Lyons, who police say teaches at the public safety institute in St. Petersburg and is one of the best-known deputies in the county.

"He just messed with the wrong person," said Largo police officer Rex Troche, who arrested Lamoureux on an aggravated assault charge.

"He's the man when it comes to training in this county," Troche said. "He's very well-known and respected in this county."

The incident began about 8:30 a.m. Saturday when Lyons, 52, was driving east on East Bay Drive. He had his 9-year-old grandson with him, and they planned to get some breakfast at Willow's Diner.

Lamoureux was driving behind them. Lyons later said Lamoureux was following very closely; Lamoureux said Lyons braked suddenly in front of him.

Either way, when Lyons turned to pull into the restaurant, 1555 East Bay Drive, Lamoureux pulled in front of him and stopped, which prevented Lyons from going forward. Lyons then saw Lamoureux reach under his seat and get out of his vehicle with a gun in his waistband, police said.

Fearing for his grandson and wanting to keep the threat as far away from the child as possible, Lyons, who was unarmed, exited his vehicle and confronted Lamoureux.

Lamoureux put his hand on the gun, a 9mm Keltec, and threatened Lyons, who then identified himself as an off-duty deputy, police said.

Lamoureux got back into his car and drove away. Lyons copied down his tag number and called police, who went to Lamoureux's home, 2751 S Pines Drive, No. 2, and brought him out of the house at gunpoint, Troche said.

Lamoureux was charged with aggravated assault. Troche said Lamoureux denied making any specific threat to Lyons.

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