Deputy Joseph Dejoie Arrested for Pointing Gun at People

An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy has been arrested after he allegedly pointed a gun at two people in Pensacola.

Deputy Joseph Dejoie, a 15 year veteran with the Escambia Sheriff’s Office was involved in a incident within the city limits of Pensacola last Monday, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

“After an investigation conducted by the Pensacola Police Department, a warrant was issued and served on Deputy Dejoie today, charging him with two counts of aggravated assault,” Ted Roy, spokesperson for the ECSO, said Tuesday afternoon. Bond was set at $500.

“The investigation determined Dejoie could not adequately justify to the satisfaction of the detective and the State Attorney’s Office his actions in pointing the firearm,” said Pensacola Assistant Chief Chip W. Simmons.

The incident began around 3:15 p.m. August 3 in the 800 block of Scenic Highway after Dejoie, who was driving an Infiniti G35, stopped suddenly in the middle of the road, causing the driver of a Jeep Cherokee to slam on its brakes, according to Pensacola Police.

The driver of the other vehicle – Dylan Johnson, 21, of Pensacola – honked his horn at Dejoie. This resulted in an exchange of profanities and insults between occupants of both vehicles, which continued westbound on Cervantes Street, according to police reports. Dejoie is accused of pointing a handgun at Johnson and a 15-year-old male passenger in his vehicle on East Cervantes Street and the Bayou Texar Bridge.

The victims told police they turned north on 19th Avenue to escape, and called 911 to report the incident. Dejoie also called 911 at about the same time.

Deputy Dejoie is currently on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the case, according to Roy.