BUSHNELL, Fla. – A wanted and armed fugitive was captured at a Bushnell motel Monday after a Sumter County sheriff’s SWAT fired tear gas into his room.
Jonathan Paul Budowski, 46, had been wanted on several charges out of Pasco and Hernando counties that included aggravated assault, burglary, battery and resisting arrest when the SWAT team burst into his Bushnell Inn room, according to an arrest affidavit.
He also faces new charges from the motel raid after the SWAT team reportedly found several weapons and drugs in the room.
According to the affidavit, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office were tipped off that Budowski was hiding out at the County Road 48 motel with another woman and the room was registered in her name. He also was believed to be driving a silver Mercedes.
Deputies on Saturday began a 24-hour surveillance on the room, spotted the car driving back and forth to the motel, but they initially were unable to positively identify the occupants. But on Monday, deputies were able to identify the driver as Budowski.
Deputies ordered the occupants out the room, but were unable to get a response. After obtaining a search warrant, a SWAT team tried again to knock and after again got no answer.
They filled the room with tear gas, Budowski came out and was arrested. But the second occupant, Jessica Honn Gordon, 29, of Dade City, remained inside — on her cell phone — and had to be removed by SWAT, the arrest report added.
Two pistols, a revolver and ammunition were found in the room that led to gun charges for Budowski. He and Gordon also were charged with marijuana and cocaine possession and meth trafficking after the drugs also reportedly were discovered in the room.
Both remained in the Sumter County jail Wednesday afternoon, Budowski without bail and Gordon in lieu of $54,500 bail.
Comments are closed.