A Polk County Sheriff’s Office sergeant was recovering from injuries in a hospital Tuesday after being dragged a few feet Monday evening by a car driven by a fleeing hit-and-run suspect.

The Sheriff’s Office identified the sergeant as Bob Barnes, who has been employed by the agency for 21 years and currently is assigned to the sheriff’s Southeast District.

Barnes suffered a dislocated shoulder, scrapes and bruises in the incident and was admitted to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for testing and observation.

According to a Sheriff’s Office affidavit, Barnes was escorting a wide-load transport down Lake Hatchineha Road in the Lake Hamilton area when he and two other deputies involved in the escort heard a radio call about a hit-and-run incident in the area. Barnes advised the deputies in the two other patrol cars to direct the transport onto State Road 17 (formerly Alternate U.S. Highway 27) to clear the way for the suspect vehicle, which most likely was heading their way.

After clearing the roadway of the transport, one of the deputies saw the suspect vehicle with front-end damage stopped in westbound traffic on Lake Hatchineha Road.

According to the affidavit, Barnes moved his marked patrol car into the intersection at State Road 17 to block the suspect’s path, got out of his car and approached the suspect vehicle, ordering the female suspect at gunpoint to get out.

When he reached the suspect car, Barnes again ordered the driver out, but she continued to stare straight ahead and ignore his commands, according to the affidavit. Barnes told the woman to open her door and shut off her vehicle, but she continued to sit in the car with no response.

When Barnes reached into the car to remove the suspect, she hit the gas pedal and accelerated, according to the affidavit. While Barnes’ arms were still inside the car and with him unable to let go, the sergeant was dragged several feet and then thrown clear of the car, striking his head on one of the Sheriff’s Office patrol units that were blocking the intersection.

The female suspect continued west, crashed into Barnes’ patrol car on the driver’s side and then came to a halt after eventually crashing into some trees.

According to the affidavit, the female suspect, identified as Monica Angelene Casanova, 24, of 1962 Sawfish Drive, Kissimmee, had to be pulled from her car through the rear passenger window because of her car’s crumpled state and position in the wooded area.

Casanova was taken to Lake Wales Medical Center, where she was treated and released.

According to the affidavit, several witnesses told deputies that they saw the suspect driving erratically and rear-ending a Ford F-150 pickup truck on Lake Hatchineha Road near the Poinciana Parkway around 6 p.m. Monday. The driver of

the F-150 followed the suspect vehicle after his truck was hit, called 911 and then saw her cross the center line and nearly hit another truck head-on near H.L. Smith Road. According to the affidavit, a collision was avoided only because the other truck driver swerved to avoid the oncoming car.

Casanova has been charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia. According to the Sheriff’s Office, she also will be charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, reckless driving and violation of driver’s license restrictions for not wearing her glasses while driving.

According to the affidavit, Casanova told deputies she had consumed a bag of cocaine and four large vodka drinks before driving. Pending her blood-alcohol level results, Casanova also likely will be charged with driving under the influence, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

She was booked into the Polk County Jail without bond.

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