Pasco deputies faced a tense standoff Tuesday night with an armed man in Wesley Chapel who at one point used an 18-month-old child as a human shield.

  • Deputies responded to report of man drunk, armed with a gun and making threats
  • Suspect tried to use a child as a shield after deputies fired at him with bean-bag ammo

Deputies responded to the home in Wesley Chapel after a woman inside called for help.

She reported Travis Connolly, 32, was armed with a loaded gun, drunk and making threats.

Officials say when deputies fired at Connolly with a less-lethal bean bag gun, he picked up the boy to use him as a shield.

The "bean bag" ammunition is powerful enough to break bones.

“It’s absolutely disgusting.  It’s deplorable,” said Detective William Wood.  “He actually admitted he used the child to shield himself. He said he knew if the child was in harm’s way, he wouldn’t be shot again.”

On the video, deputies can be heard yelling at Connolly to surrender.

“Put down the kid," said one deputy during the standoff. "Look what you’re doing to this child."

Connolly now faces charges for child abuse, domestic battery and battery on a law enforcement officer for reportedly biting a deputy during his arrest.