Lithia Man Arrested After Allegedly Dragging Deputy With Truck

A routine traffic stop that saw a sheriff’s office deputy allegedly dragged along a road as he hung onto a suspect’s truck has landed a Lithia man in jail.

The incident started when Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Bryon Beasley ran a tag on a 2005 Ford F150 he was driving behind at 1:15 a.m., Nov. 3.

The driver of the truck pulled into a gas station at the corner of Orient Road and Broadway Avenue and Deputy Beasley followed. The tag check came back confirming the owner of the truck, David Solano, 47, of 3825 East Keysville Road, had four outstanding felony warrants for his arrest.

Deputy Beasley then called out to Solano by his first name, at which time Solano responded saying that he was walking back to the truck to get his wallet and identification.

Beasley walked over to the truck and heard Solano start the truck. As Dep. Beasley reached in to turn off the truck, Solano accelerated, dragging Beasley who was hanging on to the vehicle. As he was hanging on, the deputy fired his handgun, striking the door of the truck. Deputy Beasley fell from the truck but was not injured.

Alerts were sent out and the Tampa Police Department discovered Sloan’s truck parked on 59th street. A few minutes later, a Tampa police officer located the suspect, a short foot pursuit followed and the suspect was taken into custody.

As a matter of routine policy, Deputy Beasley will be placed on administrative leave with pay pending administrative review.

Solano is now facing charges of violation of probation, grand theft, false information to a pawn broker, burglary, dealing in stolen property, resisting an officer with violence and fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer.