Collier man arrested for getting into altercation with deputy

Writer: Melissa Montoya
Published: Updated:
Thomas Dersch, 53. (CREDIT: Collier County Sheriff’s Office)

A 53-year-old convicted felon was arrested after getting into an altercation with Collier County deputies.

Thomas Dersch, of Collier County, faces charges of robbery, unarmed battery and carjacking, battery on a law enforcement officer, and possession of a controlled substance.

The incident happened on Friday in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven at 4612 Tamiami Trail in North Naples.

Dersch was stopped by deputies who recognized him as someone with two active warrants. When deputies approached him, Dersch ran and said he wasn’t Dersch, according to the arrest report.

He fled but slipped on the ground and a deputy walked up to him. The deputy attempted to spray Dersch with an agency-issued oleoresin capsicum spray, but the wind caused the spray to hit the deputy instead, according to the arrest report.

Dersch was able to get away, and he attempted to get into a parked Maseratti but was unable to. The driver of the Maseratti was sitting in the vehicle at the time.  He then proceeded to jump onto the Maseratti and lay on top of the windshield. He also attempted to smash the car’s window but was unsuccessful.

Deputies found a brown burlap sack on Thomas’ person, and it had two small baggies with a substance inside. The items tested positive for fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to the arrest report.

Dersch remains in jail.

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