Chief Chitwood injured in scuffle with suspect

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daytona Beach Police Chief Michael Chitwood was injured during a scuffle with a man he was trying to arrest at Bike Week Saturday night, according to officials.

The incident happened while Chitwood was patrolling on Main Street around 6 p.m.

Police said the man flagged down Chitwood and proceeded to tell him that it was "his constitutional right to kill any cop that he thought was bad."

According to officials, Chitwood turned and walked away and the man spit on his back.

That's when Chitwood tried to arrest 43-year-old Michael Dangelo.

Dangelo bit Chitwood's hand while he was trying to arrest him and the two started to struggle, officials said.

Dale Rutter said he was walking along Main Street when he saw the commotion.

"The guy just lit him up. He didn't care that he was a cop. It was obvious he was police, but the guy didn't care," Rutter said.

Chitwood and Dangelo fell to the ground, causing Chitwood to hit his head on a parked motorcycle.

According to officials, Chitwood suffered a large laceration on his head, a broken hand and a broken finger.

Several witnesses came over to help Chitwood detain Dangelo, who was put into handcuffs by other officers moments later, according to an arrest affidavit.

"It was surprising it did not escalate into something worse," Rutter said.

Dangelo was booked into the Volusia County Jail and charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence and disorderly conduct.

He was being held on $10,500 bail.

According to court records, Dangelo has a criminal history in Volusia County that includes six other arrests.

WFTV