Some Pasco County residents are still in shock after a deputy was involved in a shootout in their neighborhood.
- Residents shocked by shootout in their neighborhood
- Suspect drove onto lawns, crashing into mailboxes
- RELATED: Deputy-involved shooting in Pasco early Sunday
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office said deputies were responding to reports of a shooting at a residence near Darlington and U.S. 19 around 1:40 a.m. Sunday. That's when they say the suspect took off northbound on U.S. 19, eventually turning onto Eastwood Lane.
When he got to the end of the cul-de-sac, officials say he fired at deputies and a deputy returned fire. Several residents were woken up by the commotion.
"I heard two pops, pop, pop and then a boom. Kinda woke up was wondering what was going on I thought maybe a transformer had blown,” Brandon Brownsword said.
"All the kids went into the bathroom hit the floor. I stood by the door, the refrigerator until we kinda got the all clear from the officers," Jim Nagy said.
Residents say the driver drove onto their lawns and crashed into several mailboxes. Quite the disturbance for the usually quiet neighborhood.
"He ended up going right up the ramps since they're repaving the road and landed top of the mailbox. And he was basically wobbling there. Then he got out and took off," Nagy said.
The driver, identified as 26-year-old Christopher Cutugno, was later arrested by deputies.
He is now facing multiple charges including attempted homicide, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and DUI.
"It was a scary situation," Nagy said.
Brownsword was most concerned about his kids. He says their bedroom window sat directly in line with where the deputy was firing. Luckily, he found no bullets or damage to his home.
"If it wasn't for that cop with good aim hitting my SUV probably a bullet or two would have gone through my front window and maybe hurt one of my children who were sleeping in there which is really scary,” Brownsword said.
“It's too close to home you know all this took place out front on a nice quiet dead end street with kids that live all over the place," he added.
As shattered glass and markings still covered the roadway Sunday afternoon everyone here is just glad no one was hurt.
The deputy that opened fire is now on paid administrative leave. It's standard protocol for the Sheriff's Office.