Video shows moments before Osceola deputy sparked Wawa fire

Body camera video released by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office shows the moments leading up to a fire which a state fire marshal report said was sparked when Deputy David Crawford, who is facing a misdemeanor criminal charge, used a Taser around a pool of gasoline.

Sheriff Marcos López on Thursday announced his agency would submit a culpable negligence charge against Crawford to Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell’s office. Jean Barretto, who Crawford was trying to arrest, suffered extreme burns on three-quarters of his body.

Video shows Deputy Christopher Koffinas using his Taser on Barretto just seconds before while trying to handcuff him. Crawford shouted at the other deputies to shut off the gas pump as gasoline pooled around them, when he picked up a stun gun and aimed at

Barretto.

“You’re gonna get Tased again, dude,” he shouted before pulling the trigger, igniting the blaze. Crawford also suffered third-degree burns on his legs.

Deputies had tracked Barretto to the gas station after responding to reports of bikers brandishing guns at civilians. Video from an agency helicopter released Thursday showed him riding recklessly to the Wawa on the northeast corner of John Young Parkway and Central Florida

Parkway, where he stopped to refuel his bike about a mile away from his home.

According to body camera video, Crawford charged at Barretto without announcing he was law enforcement before tackling him to the ground, knocking over his bike and the gas pump. No weapons were found on Barretto.

López said his agency recommended charges against Barretto for fleeing law enforcement, reckless driving and resisting arrest.

Agency policy forbids the use of stun guns around flammable substances, like gasoline. Crawford, who also caught fire during the incident, was placed on administrative leave after the fire. Koffinas is not facing charges.

“Unfortunately, things like this happen, but the deputy will pay for his mistake,” López said.

Barretto’s lawyers, Mark NeJame and Albert Yonfa, criticized the 26-year-old’s arrest as “a grossly excessive, unwarranted, and horrific abuse of police conduct and authority.” They pointed to López’s “zero-tolerance” policy for traffic violations, which the sheriff said he will continue to enforce.

“We deal with this all the time here. People are sick of it, just sick and tired of this stuff,” López said.

Meanwhile, State Attorney Monique Worrell said in a statement her office will “file the appropriate charges” after its investigation of the fire.