Three people were arrested after brawling family members turned on the deputies who responded to the scene, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies responded to a home on Stardust Way in Brooksville shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday after receiving a call about Joseph DeFranco, 18, who was swinging a wrench at his family members, the report said.

DeFranco's family called 911 and the dispatcher told deputies that Joseph DeFranco was being held down by his father Salvatore, his brother Salvatore Jr. and his other brother Anthony, the said.

When deputies arrived, they were met by Joseph DeFranco's mother, Georgette, who told Sal DeFranco Jr.'s girlfriend, Vanessa Steiger, "the cops are here." Steiger then relayed that information to the three men who were holding Joseph DeFranco down.

As deputies approached the scene, they saw Sal DeFranco Sr. holding his son in a chokehold, and it appeared as though his face was turning purple, the report said.

The deputies asked everyone to calm down and disengage several times, but to no avail, so deputies tried to loosen the grip Sal DeFranco Sr. had on his son so he could breathe.

That's when deputies said Sal DeFranco Jr. started throwing punches at them. When the deputies tried to restrain him, he started using his MMA fighting techniques on both of them, kicking one deputy in the abdomen and the other in the thighs, the report said.

One of the deputies deployed his Taser and made contact with DeFranco Jr., but Steiger pushed the deputy backwards, grabbed both Taser lines and snapped them, breaking the connection, the report said.

As the deputy tried to reload his Taser, Georgette DeFranco rushed him, saying, "It's all your fault, I'll have your [expletive] job. You caused this."

The deputies continued to try to free Joseph DeFranco from the chokehold, but even Joseph was kicking at them, trying to hit both deputies, the report said. Eventually the deputies were able to remove Anthony from the altercation.

Next they tried to handcuff Joseph DeFranco, who became even more combative. They said he fought and kicked as they escorted him to a patrol car, and that one of the deputies used pepper spray on him, which ultimately got him to comply.

While this was happening, Sal Sr., Georgette and Anthony DeFranco continued to scream profanity at the deputies.

Deputies said Steiger cooperated with deputies and provided a statement, and that Anthony DeFranco also provided a statement. No one else was cooperative with deputies.

Steiger, Joseph DeFranco and Sal DeFranco Jr. were all arrested on the following charges:

  • Steiger, 20, is facing charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest without violence.
  • Joseph DeFranco is facing three counts of battery on a law enforcement officer and two counts of resisting arrest with violence.
  • Salvatore DeFranco Jr., 24, is facing two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence.