By Joe Crews
The Daytona Beach News Journal
DELAND, Fla. — It took a jury less than an hour today to convict David Lacey on multiple charges, including attempted second-degree murder of a police officer, a spokeswoman for prosecutors said.
Lacey also was found guilty of misdemeanor assault, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and carrying a concealed firearm. The last three charges are felonies, said Linda Pruitt, spokeswoman for the State Attorney’s Office.
No date has been set for Lacey’s sentencing by Circuit Court Judge James R. Clayton. If Clayton hands down consecutive prison terms, Lacey could be imprisoned for a maximum of 56 years, Pruitt said.
The DeLand man originally was charged with attempted first-degree murder, but prosecutors argued for the lesser charge based on the facts of the case, Pruitt said.
DeLand Police Chief Ed Overman said he thought “justice has done what it should do.
“I think (the conviction) should send a message to those who want to take on the police that justice will be done,” Overman said.
Lacey, now 22, was shot last November by DeLand police Lt. David Hiers as Lacey’s car sped toward the officer in a narrow alley beside a West New York Avenue barbershop.
Hiers and two other officers went to the scene after Justin Brown of Orange City claimed Lacey had threatened him with a gun during an argument at the barbershop. The other officers found Lacey sitting in his car behind the business, but when they ordered him out of the vehicle, Lacey started the car and sped away.
When he rounded a corner of the building, Lacey sped toward Hiers in the alley. Hiers responded by firing six shots at the vehicle.
One bullet lodged near Lacey’s lower spine. Although critically wounded, he has since recovered.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office cleared Hiers of any wrongdoing.
Copyright 2008 The Daytona Beach News-Journal