Florida man Ronald Cummings, 39, of Welaka, the father of Putnam County 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings, who disappeared in 2009, is in the Putnam County jail charged with attacking a Putnam County deputy after he was involved in a single-car accident while under the influence in Pomona Park.
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If the name sounds familiar, Ronald is the Father of Haleigh Cummings, who disappeared back in 2009. Ronald was never a suspect in that case, but he was just released from prison in October for drug trafficking
According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 call came into dispatch around midnight on Christmas Eve, referencing a single-car crash at the intersection of Sisco Road and Olivia Lane in Pomona Park.
When the deputy arrived, Cummings was found sitting in the driver’s seat of a Hyundai Sonata that appeared to have hit the Olivia Lane Road sign. The car was running and in drive, and Cummings “appeared to be sleeping or unconscious” with an entire bottle of Hennessy in his lap.
The deputy turned the vehicle off and ordered Cummings to get out. Cummings initially started to exit the car but then sat back down and tried to start it. The deputy pulled Cummings out of the vehicle, and the fight was on! Cummings pushed the deputy, reached for the deputy’s firearm, and tried to remove the gun from the holster.
Ronald Cummings, father of Haleigh Cummings, arrested | https://t.co/hv5Xhoi4QJ https://t.co/oLMmOpRuJc
— lori laney (@lorilaney2) December 27, 2022
New details: Ronald Cummings, father of missing Haleigh, is arrested again on Christmas https://t.co/ICxHsNsaCV via @dbnewsjournal
— Karen Kirkendoll (@katiedyd2) December 26, 2022
Ronald Cummings, the father of Putnam County 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings who disappeared in 2009, is expected in court Monday morning following his arrest on Christmas Day. https://t.co/79Z4n6Ryl4
— News4JAX (@wjxt4) December 26, 2022
“As I was trying to place the male’s left arm behind his back, he put one of his hands on the grip/handle of my agency-issued Glock 17 and began pulling in an upright manner. I believed the male was trying to gain possession of my firearm to use it,” the deputy wrote in the arrest report.
Cummings then hit the deputy’s radio, knocking it to the ground. The deputy then took him to the ground and secured him with Putnam County fire rescue assistance.
After Cummings was secured, he began rapping to the deputy, “You think I’m scared of prison? And called the deputy a F#@*ing cracker!
Cummings was transported to the hospital for medical clearance before being booked into the Putnam County jail, where he was charged with resisting a law enforcement officer with violence, battery on an officer, obstruction of law enforcement by depriving means of communication, trafficking at least 7 grams of oxycodone, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia, and finally he was cited for open container.
“Despite being given a clean slate after serving his time in prison, Ronald has returned to his old ways and is a menace to our community,” Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach said. “He not only put lives in danger with his actions but also attempted to endanger our deputy and medical personnel coming to assist him after he chose to drive while under the influence. Some people do not take the second chances they’ve been given to change their lives, and his actions reflect this.”
During Cummings’ first appearance on Monday morning, Assistant State Attorney James Nealis said that because Cummings committed several felonies after being released just two months ago, he’s a danger to the community.
“What’s concerning to the state, your honor, is this violence against law enforcement involved a defendant who threatened law enforcement and then tried to pull that law enforcement officer’s gun off his belt,” Nealis said. “In a world where law enforcement has a target on their backs, a man who attempts to deprive officers of their guns is by definition a danger.”
ASA Nealis requested a $300,000 bond for the charges, but Judge Howard McGillian decided on a $185,500 bond.
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