A Villager who was stopped for speeding in a school zone was tased after refusing to cooperate with law enforcement.
A deputy initiated a traffic stop on 37-year-old Michael James Maffia of the Village of Piedmont in the area of Buffalo Ridge Plaza in The Villages around 7:20 a.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. His vehicle, a white 2023 Toyota RAV 4, had been traveling 40 miles per hour in an active 20-mph school zone at The Villages Charter School fon County Road 466.
Maffia ultimately pulled over in the parking lot of Aspen Dental, located at 3790 Wedgewood Lane. He handed over his license but admitted it was not valid. Indeed, a check of his driving history revealed it had been suspended on Jan. 6, 2018, with notice provided on Dec. 29, 2017, the report said.
Due to this, the deputy tried using handcuffs to arrest Maffia, who refused to cooperate. The deputy then dropped the handcuffs only for Maffia to pick them up and start walking backward. He continued moving away even after the deputy drew his taser and told him to get on the ground. He was tased as a result, falling to the ground where he was arrested without further issues, the report said.
Maffia was charged with resist officer (obstruct without violence), petit theft and driving while license suspended/revoked. The New York native was transported to the Sumter County Detention Center with bond set at $2,000.