Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Citizen Appreciation Award


On 7/6/2014 at 4:28pm, the Tampa Police Department received a 911 call involving a subject who had just pulled a gun and threatened the female caller.

Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene and arrived on scene a few minutes later. Prior to the officers arrival, Security Officer Antonis “Anthony” Zaloumis of Critical Response Security, LLC was alerted of the incident.  Security Officer Zaloumis immediately sprung into action and made contact with the armed subject. Security Officer Zaloumis observed a firearm in the suspect's left front pant's pocket and ordered the suspect to put his hands up.

The suspect failed to listen to the commands and began to flee. Security Officer Zaloumis initiated a foot pursuit of the armed suspect while in the performance of his security duties while patrolling this apartment complex that is frequently plagued by violence and armed subjects. Security Officer Zaloumis quickly chased down the armed suspect and prevented him from fleeing the area. The suspect violently began to fight and resist the actions of Security Officer Zaloumis who was trying to handcuff the armed suspect. During the violent resist Security Officer Zaloumis was forced to use pepper spray to gain compliance of the suspect and during the fight become contaminated himself.

Upon the officers arrival, they observed Security Officer Zaloumis was holding onto the suspect's left hand ensuring that he was not able to get to his firearm. That firearm was determined to be fully loaded and functional, although the serial number had been scratched off.

A review of the defendant’s criminal history revealed he had been arrested for thirty-two (32) felony charges and an additional twenty-one (21) misdemeanor charges. The defendant had also failed to appear in court on ten (10)  prior incidents.

Defendant Wanser case was properly documented and left him with no defense as a result he pled open on all cases/charges and was sentenced to 5.5 years as a Prison Release Re-Offender and Habitual Felony Offender and upon his release will be on 3 years of felony probation.

Based on Security Officer Zaloumis heroic actions and the courage he took to engage a known armed suspect while placing his own safety at risk and preventing the escape of the suspect he is hereby awarded the Tampa Police Department's Citizen Appreciation Award.

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