On Oct. 24, 2019 just before 10:30 a.m., Hernando County Sheriff’s Office deputy A. Valdez was conducting proactive patrol in the area of Falcon Avenue and Cambay Lane in Spring Hill when he observed a male riding a bicycle approaching him.
Deputy Valdez immediately recognized the male on the bicycle, from previous law enforcement contacts, as Gary Francis Molloy. Deputy Valdez also had knowledge that Molloy had an active felony warrant for his arrest. After Molloy passed the deputy and turned onto Falcon Avenue, Deputy Valdez turned his patrol vehicle around and began to follow him. Molloy was now operating his bicycle in the opposing lane of traffic.
Molloy noticed that the deputy was behind him and began to ride faster. He began to pedal faster when deputy Valdez turned on his lights and siren. Molloy rode the bike into the front yard of 8405 Apple Orchard Road, then continued into the backyard of a neighboring residence.
Deputy Valdez then pursued Molloy on foot, commanding him to stop. Deputy Valdez was able to catch Molloy, grabbing him by his backpack. After deputy Valdez notified Molloy he was under arrest, Molloy turned his body and struck deputy Valdez. The strike caused the deputy to lose his balance and his grip on Molloy. Molloy fled near Waterfall Drive.
Law enforcement responded to the scene, setting up a perimeter and deploying a K-9 to track Molloy. They weren’t able to find him that day.
On Oct. 25 before 7:30 a.m., Deputy J. Crespo was responding to a call regarding a Suspicious Person in the area of 7309 Gates Circle when he spotted Gary Molloy riding another bicycle in the area.
Molloy immediately fled when he observed the deputy. Numerous units responded to the area in an effort to locate Molloy. During the search, Sgt. S. Johnson spotted Molloy in the center of the lake located behind the residences on Gates Circle.
Numerous deputies and detectives responded to the lake side and ordered Molloy to surrender and to stop swimming away. Molloy refused to comply with commands.
Given the totality of the circumstances, the HCSO Marine Unit (airboat) and a K-9 team responded to the scene. Once the airboat was deployed in the lake, Molloy was successfully placed into custody.
During his interview with detectives at the District Two office, Molloy stated he should have “come back” and he “made the biggest mistake of his life” for not listening and continuing to swim away.
At the conclusion of the interview, Molloy was transported to the Hernando County Detention Center. Gary Francis Molloy, 36, was charged as follows:
Resist Officer/Obstruct w/o Violence
o Bond – $1,000
Resist Officer/Obstruct w/o Violence
Resist Officer/Obstruct with Violence
o Bond – $2,000
Failure to Appear – Burglary of Conveyance
o Bond – $10,000.
Molloy remains in jail.
