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Two Florida men were charged by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office last week following a dispute that resulted in a driver crashing a car into a house and a man shooting at the driver's car window.
A Facebook post published on Thursday by the sheriff's office stated that officers were first called on July 20 to investigate a report of an impaired driver, but learned that a shooting involving the driver had also occurred while en route.
Nicholas Vetter, 41, was identified as the shooting suspect, while Wesley Rhodes, 43, was identified as the driver. Vetter was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and discharging a firearm in public, while Rhodes was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon—the car.
According to FindLaw, a legal information website, aggravated assault is classified as a third-degree felony in the state. Those who are found guilty of aggravated assault may face up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
"When deputies arrived on the scene, they observed Rhodes' vehicle to have a shattered rear window," the sheriff's office said. "Deputies also noted a bullet hole on the passenger side of the rear window."
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Officers found Vetter at a house, and although they ordered him to come outside, it took more than an hour for him to speak with them. When he did leave, deputies said he appeared intoxicated and they arrested him.
Rhodes told police that he was involved in a verbal altercation with two neighbors, but as he was driving away, he said he heard a gunshot come from behind his car and saw his window shatter.
He said Vetter was responsible for shooting at his car.
"Deputies then spoke to a witness who advised she initially called 9-1-1 to report a vehicle driven by Rhodes was driving erratically around the neighborhood," the Facebook post read. "She advised, at times, Rhodes was driving at a high-rate of speed while children were playing outside."
The witness also told police that another neighbor tried to tell Rhodes to slow down, but when he returned to his yard, Rhodes allegedly drove his car onto the neighbor's yard and crashed into the house. He then reportedly got out of the car and got into a physical altercation with two other neighbors.
After a few minutes, he got into his car and drove away.
"While Rhodes was driving away from the scene, the first witness heard what she believed was a gunshot," the sheriff's office said. "The witness advised she turned to observe Vetter in the roadway holding a gun."
Michael Terry, the deputy press information officer with the sheriff's office, told Newsweek in an email that Rhodes did not hit Vetter's house, and added that the case remains open. The Facebook post stated that additional charges are possible as the investigation continues, but Terry said no additional charges have been pressed at the time of publication.
Other Recent Arrests
Police reported earlier this month that a mother was arrested after her 7-year-old daughter died when she fell out of an SUV on the freeway.
Meanwhile, a man was arrested this month after he was accused of "harassing" a pelican and getting into a drunken scuffle with police.
In addition, a McDonald's employee on Saturday allegedly threw live ammunition on the restaurant's grill, which resulted in the establishment needing to be evacuated.
About the writer
Catherine Ferris is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting for the U.S. Trends Team. She ... Read more