Dennis Lamar Flint, 52, was found guilty as charged of two counts of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, one count of Resisting an Officer with Violence, one count of Battery to a Police Dog, and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance following a two day trial in Lee County.
In November 2017, Lee County Sheriff deputies received a call about a reckless driver on Palm Beach Boulevard in Fort Myers. While en route, they received another call about a crash involving a similar vehicle to the initial call. When they arrived on scene, deputies find a car in the median with extensive damage but no driver.
A canine unit responded and found the defendant near a home in a fenced yard in palmetto bushes. The deputies identified themselves as law enforcement and gave multiple orders for Flint to come out and he did not comply. As one of the deputies tried to pull him out of the brush, he resisted and kicked him four times in the chest. Deputies attempted to use their tasers on the defendant but they appeared to have virtually no effect. The deputies stepped back as the canine was released on Flint. The dog bit Flint’s leg to pull him out but lost his bite and Flint kicked the canine twice. Deputies were then finally able to secure Flint in handcuffs after a short struggle where another deputy was hit in the arm.
Flint was put in the back of a patrol car to be taken to jail. During that time he continued to bang his head on the partition and kick the doors. He had to be pepper sprayed to try and get him to calm down and stop his actions. After arriving at the jail, deputies discovered two small plastic baggies with illegal narcotics under the rear seat of the patrol car that had not been there before.
The deputies involved suffered minor injuries and made a full recovery.
Flint faces up to 20 years in prison at his sentencing on June 19th. Assistant State Attorney Andrea Ciervo-Canizares prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
239-533-1125
ssyoen@sao20.org