Florida man using toddler as a human shield TASED in McDonald’s drive-through

Oct 1, 2022 | Political News

27-year-old kidnapping suspect Brandon Matthew Douglas Leohner of Palm Coast, Florida used a baby as a human shield on Tuesday during a police standoff in the drive through of a McDonald's

According to Breaking911, the 1-year-old is the child of Leohner's girlfriend, and after the brief standoff, police were able to tase Leohner and safely remove the toddler from his grasp.

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said, “Here is a case of a domestic situation turning violent, putting a 1-year-old child and innocent drivers in danger. Deputies were confronted with a very chaotic situation and a very combative individual that was putting his child at risk by using the child as a shield. Our deputies did everything they could to quickly rescue this child safely from a madman and apprehend the suspect. Fortunately, the child was not hurt and was quickly reunited with his mother.”

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to a call describing how Leohner took the child while armed with a handgun, and then drove away with the youngster in his lap.

Police located the man as he was speeding through Belle Terre Parkway and then he fled onto State Road 100. 

Reports indicate Leohner drove recklessly with the child, by crossing medians, driving into oncoming traffic, and driving at dangerously high speeds.

He eventually led authorities to a nearby McDonald's where he exited the vehicle.

That's when he could be seen holding the child up like a shield during the standoff, as police yelled at him to put the baby down.

A taser was deployed, knocking Leohner to the ground. An officer grabbed the child, but it didn't take long for Leohner to recover from the jolt and attempt to flee. With the help of a K-9 police dog, the officers were able to deploy another taser and regain control of the suspect.

Leohner was then arrested and treated for his injuries. According to Breaking 911, he's been charged with “kidnapping, using a minor as a shield, resisting with violence, child neglect, fleeing and eluding and reckless driving.”