Osceola County Deputy David Crawford has been formally charged after being accused of starting a fire with his Taser at an Orange County Wawa in 2022 that left a man badly burned across 75% of his body.
Crawford faces a charge of culpable negligence with personal injury, a first-degree misdemeanor, according to the Orange-Osceola state attorney’s office. If convicted, Crawford could face a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
When the incident took place more than a year ago, Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez said he was recommending charges against Crawford.
On February 27 of 2022, Osceola deputies crossed county lines pursing 26-year-old Jean Barretto, who deputies said had been illegally “popping wheelies” in traffic while on his dirt bike. Deputies said they had attempted a traffic stop near Donegan Avenue in Kissimmee, but the motorcyclist fled. According to deputies, they had received multiple 911 calls, saying a group of motorcyclists was pointing guns at civilians. Osceola Deputies followed the victim into an Orange County Wawa gas station where they confronted him at a gas pump. Deputy Crawford then tackled the victim to the ground in the gas pump area, and during the struggle, Crawford deployed a taser at the victim who had become soaked in gasoline which caused the explosion that injured Barretto, according to the Orange-Osceola state attorney’s office.
“Deputy Crawford was aware there was gas in the direct and immediate area,” Sheriff Lopez said in 2022. “We know this because he says on body cam, ‘Kill the pump, kill the pump! Gas!’ He picked up the discarded Taser that was located in gas. He says, ‘You’re about to get tazed, dude.’ Immediately after that statement with the Taser in his hand, the fire ignites.”
Barretto suffered second and third-degree burns across at least 75% of his body, injuries he is still recovering from.
