Victor Nguyen, 18, of Santa Rosa Beach is charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence. Last night (Monday), Deputy Kenneth Leavins was patrolling the Driftwood Estates subdivision located in Santa Rosa Beach due to the recent residential and car burglaries in the area.
Deputy Leavins turned onto Red Bay Court and immediately noticed a male suspect who later was identified as Nguyen, urinating next to someone’s driveway. Deputy Leavins made contact with Nguyen who initially walked away from him, staggering and appeared to be intoxicated. Deputy Leavins asked Nguyen to walk to his patrol car and at that time Deputy Leavins could smell a strong odor of alcohol on his breath.
Nguyen shoved Deputy Leavins and ran. Nguyen’s escape was blocked after a resident from the home walked out in front of him. Deputy Leavins attempted to take Nguyen into custody but Nguyen grabbed Deputy Leavins around the body, picked him up and threw him to the ground.
Nguyen’s actions posed a violent threat towards Deputy Leavins after several commands to stop resisting were given. For his safety, Deputy Leavins had to place Nguyen in a vascular neck restraint before Nguyen finally submitted and placed his hands behind his back.
