Suspect Bites Deputy’s Boot, Slams Head On Ground During Arrest

New Smyrna Beach, FL – An attempted burglary suspect is also charged with resisting arrest with violence and battery on an officer, on top of multiple other charges, after fighting with law enforcement during his arrest. A report from the New Smyrna Beach Police Department (NSBPD) says officers were called to a Dairy Queen off of North Dixie Freeway just after 2:30 Tuesday morning (March 16th). The report states that police were called after someone heard glass breaking and an alarm going off from the area of the store. As officers were responding to the call, a Volusia County deputy notified dispatch that he was in contact with someone just a block south of the Dairy Queen. When an NSBPD officer arrived to meet with the deputy and the male, the male asked if he could speak to a supervisor, to which the NSB officer replied that he was the on-duty supervisor and that law enforcement was investigating a break-in that had occurred just up the street. After hearing that, the male—who police identified as 36-year-old Jeovanni Bonanno—spontaneously told the officer that he was the one who did it because he needed to use the store’s phone to get help. The officer also noticed that Bonanno was carrying a bag that had the handle of a machete sticking out of it. After seeing the bag, the officer told Bonanno to drop his bag and put his hands up. Bonanno did drop the bag, but did not listen to his other commands. At some point, Bonanno put his hands up and started to turn around towards the officer and a nearby deputy. But, as they tried to secure him in handcuffs, Bonanno began to tense up while trying to pull away from them as he screamed loudly. He was eventually secured in handcuffs, but he did not stop resisting, even after they threatened to tase him. Eventually, Bonanno stood up and tried to run away, but deployed his taser, which struck Bonanno. Bonanno first tried running and eventually fell onto a sidewalk, he stood up and tried to run again but ended up falling into the street. The officer also tripped over Bonanno during the struggle. Even after securing Bonanno again, he continued to struggle with law enforcement. Later on, New Smyrna Beach Fire Rescue arrived to treat Bonanno. As they waited for fire personnel, Bonanno continued to resist and scream. According to NSBPD’s report, Bonanno also bit the boot of the deputy and spit in the face of anyone who got close to him. Officers were able to secure a spit mask over Bonanno’s face. After doing so, Bonanno began to bang his head on the sidewalk. He was moved to the grass to prevent further injury. Bonanno was then taken to AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach to have his injuries checked out. According to the report, a search of Bonanno’s bag yielded a machete, four jars of THC concentrate, two jars of marijuana, five e-pens, three glass smoking devices, and a prescription bottle containing 28 pills of Buprenorphine—an opioid medication and a schedule III substance—that had someone else’s name on it. After he was cleared by medical personnel, Bonanno was charged with principal attempted burglary of an unoccupied structure, resisting arrest with violence, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a schedule III substance, and battery on a law enforcement officer. He remains in custody at the Volusia County Jail with bond set at $10,500.