Posted on 09/10/2026 5:48:04 PM PDT by Impala64ssa
Two Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies were shot Thursday morning, Sept. 10, while serving a vice and narcotics search warrant at a home on Coral Street in Spring Hill.
As deputies approached the home around 5 a.m. with their lights and sirens activated, they announced their presence. Anthony Cusati, 29, then began firing at deputies through the door.
Sheriff Al Nienhuis said, deputies did not immediately return fire.
“Fortunately for him, and he is very lucky, he needs to thank his lucky stars, the deputies could not see him. They did not return fire,” Nienhuis said.
K-9 Deputy Jonathan Alion was struck in the arm but the injury was relatively minor.
Sgt. Scott Lewis, an 11-year veteran, was struck twice. One bullet hit his body-worn camera, while another struck his upper left leg. Lewis is currently stable.
The Sheriff’s Office began investigating Cusati several months ago as part of a cocaine investigation.
Nienhuis said Cusati has at least six felony charges on his record, including battery on detention staff, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, possession of marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon, burglary with an assault and aggravated stalking. He was also previously arrested in connection with a homicide, but those charges were later reduced to improper display of a firearm.
Cusati is currently in custody and has been arrested on 12 counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, two counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, shooting into an occupied vehicle and resisting arrest with violence. Additional narcotics-related charges are expected as the investigation continues.
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Is Cusati wait-listed for his MENSA application?
Florida Man?
I must disagree. Blindly shooting through a closed door is a BAD idea.
They got him fair and square and no unexpected children wimmin gender workers or druggies were injured maimed or killed.
I hope Cusati spends a long time in the big house for the way he hurt those two officers ....
If you’re serving an arrest warrant on a dangerous felon at 5 am, why are you announcing your presence prematurely by riding in with your siren and lights active? Sounds more like they thought he’d run, but instead he decided to shoot it out.
Maybe alerting him with lights and sirens was a bad idea. From the info on the perp, why not a full swat response.
With a prior history like his a full on swat no knock entry should have been conducted. It makes zero sense to alert your target in such a manner.
Bad choices all around!
Rule #4:
Identify your target, and know what lies beyond it.
Here endeth the lesson.
CC
How about waiting until he goes out and grabbing him from behind? Cops want to engage in dramatic action, rather than act in an efficient manner.
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