CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – An attempted murder suspect was found hiding in a trunk of a vehicle during a traffic stop in Citrus County on Friday.
According to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, the Warrants Unit received a call around 3 p.m. from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office regarding a wanted Pasco homicide suspect traveling into Citrus on US Highway 19.
Pasco officials reported a vehicle traveling from Levy County heading south on US Hwy 19 was believed to have a wanted homicide suspect inside.
A detective identified the vehicle when it entered Citrus County and relayed its location to get additional units for backup.
The Citrus Sheriff’s Office aviation unit responded to keep an aerial view on the vehicle as it traveled south.
Patrol units stopped the vehicle as it made its way into Homosassa and entered an area with heavy traffic due to construction.
Deputies made contact with the visible occupants of the car, a juvenile female driver and passenger.
After permission was granted to search the vehicle, deputies found the wanted homicide suspect hiding in the trunk of the vehicle.
Taylor Contino, 20, of Hudson, was arrested for his warrant on the original charge and booked into the Citrus County Jail at 4:08 p.m.
According to FHP, Contino was wanted in a hit-and-run accident involving a motorcyclist on May 12, 2018.
According to an FHP incident report, witnesses state Contino intentionally struck the motorcyclist after an argument at a gas station on US Hwy 19, causing serious bodily injured.
Contino fled that scene on foot.
He is charged with attempted homicide – murder dangerous depraved without premeditation and leaving the scene on public or private property without rendering aid involving serious bodily injury.
