A routine code enforcement check took an unexpected turn in the Florida Keys on Friday afternoon when a local senior citizen was arrested for allegedly fighting with law enforcement officers.
The incident unfolded around 2:20 p.m. on July 10, 2026, on Oleander Drive in Tavernier. Deputies from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office were actively investigating several vehicles parked illegally on the county right-of-way when 73-year-old Dennis Alan Leith exited his nearby home and walked over to the scene.
According to authorities, Leith did not own any of the vehicles being inspected. Because Leith was already known to local law enforcement from prior incidents, deputies repeatedly ordered him to leave the immediate area so they could conduct their investigation.
Leith refused to comply with those commands. Officials stated that he then approached one of the deputies in a hostile manner.
When deputies moved in to detain him, the situation escalated physically. Leith allegedly pushed away from the officers and began kicking at them as they worked to place him in handcuffs.
No life-threatening injuries were reported during the altercation. Following the struggle, Leith was transported to Mariners Hospital, where he received medical treatment for injuries to his arm. Once cleared by medical staff, he was booked into the local jail.
Leith now faces multiple charges, including resisting arrest. He was also charged with violating Florida’s “halo law,” a specific statute designed to protect first responders by establishing a mandatory 25-foot protective zone around them while they are performing their official duties.
READ: How A Call To Cops In Florida Saved Four Pets Cooking Inside A 102-Degree U-Haul
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