GIFFORD, FLORIDA — A Florida Sheriff's deputy is recovering after engaging in a violent firefight with an alleged drug dealer during a traffic stop.
Indian River County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Lester pulled over Andrew Coffee, 52, on Thursday night for not having a license tag on his scooter.
Dashcam footage of the incident, released by authorities on Friday shows the dramatic incident unfolding in gruesome detail.
The video shows Coffee, who had spent 20 years in prison for attempted murder and had recently been arrested on drug-related charges, getting into an argument with the officer before suddenly delivering a powerful haymaker to his face.
Police say Coffee next drew a weapon from his waistband, a .357 magnum revolver holding six cartridges.
It's not clear how many rounds Coffee fired, but Deputy Lester sustained an injury to his leg.
Lester returned fire, emptying 14 Glock .45 handgun rounds and striking Coffee twice in the abdomen.
Coffee fled the scene, but was soon found hiding at a nearby fruit packing company.
Lester, who is the first deputy to be struck by gunfire in the line of duty in Indian River in nearly three decades, is reportedly in good condition, while Coffee is undergoing surgery for his injuries.
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