A deputy told them not to fish. They found his home and threatened his family, cops say.
A Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy told two men that spear fishing along the Intracoastal was illegal. Less than two weeks later, they were stalking his home, an arrest report says.
Fred Patrick Spring, 24, and Carson Shoaf, 23, were arrested Tuesday on charges of aggravated stalking of a law enforcement officer and threatening an officer. Jail records show Shoaf posted his $21,000 bond on Wednesday while Spring posted his $200,000 bond on Thursday.
The deputy, 43-year-old Darrell Russian, first encountered the duo on July 4 when they tried to illegally spear fish. He told them that the area was closed but Spring “verbally attacked” him, even referring to the deputy with a homophobic slur, according to the report. The two eventually left but they would meet Russian again not even a week later.
Having already forgotten about the previous mix-up, Russian unknowingly responded on July 9 to Shoaf’s Palm Beach Shores home for a narcotics investigation. The deputy said he didn’t recognize the 23-year-old when he placed him into the back of his PBSO vehicle. Spring’s arrival jogged his memory.
“Spring showed up to the scene and began verbally attacking [Russian] again,” the deputy wrote. “... They both yelled obscenities at Russian and said they know where he lives.”
Deputies found two guns at the residence but it’s unclear if Shoaf was charged, according to the report.
Their latest encounter occurred Tuesday morning when Russian, off duty and driving his personal vehicle, noticed a car following him. Inside the car were Shoaf and Spring, the report says.
Afraid to go home, Russian called PBSO and drove to Sailfish Marina where the car blocked his path. All three got out of their respective vehicles and an argument ensued with Spring accusing the deputy of orchestrating the search warrant at his house.
“’I’m going to beat your f****** a**,’” Spring, who the report indicates was standing aggressively with his fists clinched, said. “’I know where your wife and daughter are at. I know where you live.’”
“I’ll end you if you come to my house,” Russian responded, according to the report.
Two PBSO deputies arrived and diffused the situation. One later said she overheard Spring call Russian derogatory names as well as yell “I hate cops,” according to the report.
Russian later went home and was standing in his driveway with another deputy when the duo drove by, yelling, “We know where you live,” the report says.
Investigators reviewed the Sailfish Marina’s security footage and questioned all parties involved. Shoaf and Spring were taken into custody Tuesday evening.
During Spring’s interview, he portrayed Russian as overly aggressive in each of their encounters. He said that it was the deputy who blocked them in at Sailfish Marina. Detectives then showed him the footage to which he replied, “We are done,” according to the report.
A review of both individuals’ previous court cases shows Shoaf had two traffic infractions, one of which is still open and the other in which he was sentenced to traffic school. Spring, however, had several convictions including battery, discharging a firearm in public and improper exhibition of a dangerous weapon.
Most recently, he was released in March 2019 following 16 months in state prison for felony battery.
This story was originally published July 17, 2020 at 4:21 PM.
