HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – Hernando County Sheriff’s Office Intelligence Unit detectives attempted to locate a wanted man, Richard Stephenson Jr., 40, at a Spring Hill residence on July 21, 2026.
Upon the arrival of detectives, Stephenson fled the home on foot and ignored commands to stop, initiating a foot pursuit through the area.
Deputy Allion and his K-9 partner, Tazz, arrived at the scene to assist in searching for the fleeing suspect. K-9 Tazz tracked Stephenson into a nearby wooded area, where deputies located him hiding in the brush.
According to sheriff’s office reports, Stephenson was armed with a large fixed-blade knife. He unsheathed the knife during the encounter and did not drop the weapon despite instructions from law enforcement.
Deputies disarmed and arrested Stephenson, during which time he received multiple bite injuries from K-9 Tazz. First responders transported Stephenson to a local facility for medical evaluation prior to his booking.
Stephenson was booked into the Hernando County Detention Center on his outstanding warrants, as well as new charges including aggravated assault and resisting law enforcement.
“The coordinated efforts of our detectives, deputies, and K-9 Unit helped bring this dangerous incident to a safe conclusion,” the department stated in a release.
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