A homicide suspect was arrested after a standoff in Central Florida when a license plate reader caught his tag, according to local law enforcement.
Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies recently received a BOLO from the Altamonte Springs Police Department on a black Ram pickup driven by homicide suspect John Schmalz-Riedt, who was believed to be armed with a handgun.
A Flock license plate reader caught the truck’s tag in Volusia County, and a deputy got behind it southbound on SR 415. After an attempted traffic stop, Schmalz-Riedt refused to stop and continued south, according to VSO.
Another deputy deployed stop sticks and struck a rear tire of the Ram. After that, as the truck turned from 415 onto Howland Boulevard, the pursuing deputy initiated a PIT maneuver, leading the Ram to come to a stop in the woodline. Deputies then contained the vehicle and conducted a high-risk traffic stop, with Schmalz-Riedt not complying with commands.
Deputies made contact with him via phone, but a standoff continued for about three hours. The suspect was confirmed to be armed, and he would not commit to coming out of the truck peacefully. Eventually, he surrendered to SWAT deputies and was taken into custody.
According to local law enforcement, 65-year-old John Schmalz-Riedt was charged with fleeing by VSO, and 2nd degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon by Altamonte Springs PD.
Multiple units and resources played a role in the safe resolution of this call, including VSO patrol, Flock LPRs, 911 dispatch, investigations, SWAT, Bearcat, Rook, Air One, drone operators, K-9, trained negotiators, Volusia County Crime Center analysts and Altamonte Springs PD.
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