Deputies and K9 in fight for their lives

Jacob Thomas Governale, a 30 year-old would-be car thief, decided to take on several sheriff’s deputies armed with batons, pepper spray, tasers and even a K-9 deputy; threatening to drowned the deputies and their dog if they came into a pond to capture him.

On Monday morning at 8:15 a.m., Governale, who resides at 239 Cezanne Circle in Ponte Vedra Beach, was spotted prowling in the yard of a resident in the 9900 block of Old Dixie Highway.

The 47-year old woman who lives in the house told deputies that she heard her son’s vehicle “start up” in the back yard. The victim went to investigate and discovered Governale walking through her yard. According to her statement, she asked if she could help him. Governale told her that he was “looking for something better”, referring to the truck in the victim’s yard.

Sheriff’s spokesman Kevin Kelshaw said today that Governale faces attempted second degree murder on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, burglary to a conveyance, resisting arrest with violence and battery on a K-9. If convicted, Governale could receive a mandatory life sentence. Governale is being held without bond in the St. Johns County Detention Facility.

Deputies searched the area and discovered an abandoned ATV that matched the description of one believed to be operated by Governale. Deputies tracked east from the ATV site and located Governale. He was standing in a small pond with his hands underwater.

Deputies ordered Governale to show his hands; however, he refused several times before he was shot with a Taser. Governale agreed to exit the water and lay face down — when Deputy Jacob Manning approached him; he jumped up and pushed the deputy down in the mud. Governale went back into the water and picked up a large stick which he used to threaten the deputy.

According to the report, Governale told deputies “you are going to have to kill me” and offered a warning that if they came into the water, he would drown them — as well as the canine.

Governale came out of the water in a very aggressive manner and deputies shot him with Tasers several times. Kelshaw told Historic City News that Governale kept pulling out the probes.

Meeting with additional resistance from Governale, deputies attempted to subdue him with pepper spray which failed to have any effect.

Deputies Ezekiel Kelly and his K-9 responded and ordered Governale out of the water. He was shot once more with a Taser when he refused. The deputy deployed his K-9 to engage Governale, who attempted to push the police dog under water. The deputy shot Governale with his Taser a final time — stunning him long enough for the K-9 to escape.

Two deputies entered the water to engage Governale — he picked up a stick and struck one of the deputies in the hand. Deputies began striking the suspect with their hands and batons when Governale fought back and attempted to pull Deputy Kelly underwater.

Governale continued to be very aggressive until he was placed in a neck restraint. Governale lost consciousness and was able to be secured. Before delivering Governale to jail, he was transported to Flagler Hospital for a medical clearance.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News contributed photograph by