Polk deputy's hand seriously injured after homemade explosive device triggers shotgun round, officials say

DUNDEE, Fla. - Polk County officials said a deputy lost two fingers when a suspect's homemade gun exploded outside a Dundee motel.

The sheriff’s office said deputies were investigating a disturbance reported at the Economy Motor Lodge around 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Officials said the deputies were directed to a woman who was sitting on a bench at the adjacent motel, the Monticello Motel. She walked next door before deputies arrived.

Meanwhile, another deputy arrived as backup and 39-year-old Marco Antonio Tolentino approached on a bicycle. The sheriff's office said he was not related to the original disturbance call. 

"The deputy began interacting with Tolentino, who was being evasive about who he was and said he did not have identification," according to a news release from the Polk County Sheriff's Office. "During the interaction, the deputy asked the suspect if he had anything illegal on him."

Marco Antonio Tolentino (Provided by the Polk County Sheriff's Office)

Officials said Tolentino lifted his shirt, revealing a metal pipe underneath, which was later described as a homemade gun, and told the deputy it was used to protect him. A portion of the pipe was concealed in the suspect's right pocket and extended upwards to the abdomen under the shirt.

"The suspect reached for the pipe and the deputy stopped him; telling him that he would retrieve the item," according to the sheriff's office. "At this point, the deputy was unsure what the item was, but believed it was some sort of weapon based on the interaction."

That's when the deputy reached for the item, and so did Tolentino. The suspect was also trying to pull away from the Polk County deputies, investigators said.

"At that time, the pipe (which is also known as a zip gun or improvised firearm) came apart as it was pulled from the pocket and then a "blast" went off," the agency reported, adding that the device fired a 12-gauge shotgun buckshot round. The single-round struck the deputy's hand and hit the suspect's hand and shoulder.

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"I am sorry to report to you that the deputy has lost two fingers as a result of that. His index finger and his middle finger," Sheriff Grady Judd said later during a press conference.

Both the deputy and Tolentino were transported. Officials describe the injury to the deputy's hand as "serious." Tolentino had non-life-threatening injuries. 

Detectives said Tolentino told them he had "a tube" with the 12 gauge round in his waistband and that it was triggered while being removed. He reiterated that he carries it for protection and made it himself. 

Officials said he does not have a concealed carry license. 

"The destructive device has two inter-locking pieces of metal pipe that hold a single shotgun shell," according to the sheriff's office. "When pressed together, the device is designed to fire the single projectile."

Deputies searched Tolentino's room and found additional shotgun rounds. Officials said no deputies fired any weapons.

Tolentino faces several charges, including attempted felony murder, resisting an officer without violence, providing false information to a law enforcement officer, possessing or discharging a destructive device, and resisting an officer with violence.