MAN TASERED AFTER HITTING POLICE CAR

CHARLOTTE COUNTY DEPUTIES TASERED A PUNTA GORDA MAN AFTER HE FLED FROM THEM AND HIT A PATROL CAR YESTERDAY.  DEPUTIES ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER 34 YEAR OLD DANIEL WEGERT WHEN THEY SAW HIM SPEEDING AT THE INTERSECTION OF GLENDALE AVENUE AND ELKHAM BOULEVARD IN PORT CHARLOTTE, BUT HE ACCELERATED AND BEGAN WEAVING THROUGH TRAFFIC.  THE REPORT SAYS HE DROVE ACROSS TWO LAWNS BEFORE HE PULLED OVER AND BACKED HIS CAR INTO THE DEPUTY’S CAR.  HE THEN TRIED TO RUN AWAY, BUT DEPUTY’S CAUGHT UP TO HIM AFTER HE RAN RIGHT OUT OF HIS SHOES.  WEGERT WAS WARNED TO STOP BUT HE TRIED TO RUN INTO A HOME INSTEAD, AND THAT’S WHEN A DEPUTY TASERED HIM.  DURING A SEARCH, DEPUTIES FOUND COCAINE AND DRUG PARAPHERNALIA ON HIM AND IN HIS CAR.  WEGERT WAS CHARGED WITH FLEEING TO ELUDE, POSSESSION OF COCAINE WITH THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE, POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, RECKLESS DRIVING, AND RESISTING AN OFFICER WITHOUT VIOLENCE.  HE IS BEING HELD ON $12,500 BOND IN THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY JAIL.