News
Detective in Oct. 20 shooting back on duty
TBO.com
Published: October 31, 2012
A Hernando County Sheriff's Office detective returned from administrative leave Monday, 10 days after he and another off-duty law enforcement officer were involved in a shooting along Orchard Way in Spring Hill that left a woman dead.Published: October 31, 2012
Sheriff's Spokeswoman Denise Moloney said Col. Mike Maurer indicated there was nothing else to release in regards to Detective Rocky Howard's involvement and that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was investigating.
The other officer involved in the Oct. 20 shooting, William Mechler remains on administrative leave with the Tampa Police Department.
Both officers were placed on administrative leave following a bizarre incident involving Inga Marie Swanson, 42, who was wearing no clothing, and acting irrationally when she walked uninvited into a gathering at 9070 Orchard Way.
She was asked to leave, sparking a confrontation, but eventually left. Swanson returned soon after with a gun, deputies said.
Howard, 31, who owns a home near where the shooting occurred, and Mechler, 26, felt their lives were in danger, deputies said.
Both fired at Swanson and killed her, according to the sheriff's office.