MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Move over, magicians—Rheanna Harden has a new trick: escaping a double pat-down, retrieving a palm-sized pistol from her crutch area, and nearly turning a routine traffic stop into an action blockbuster.
Here’s the play-by-play of how a deputy’s SUV became Harden’s personal shooting range, and why Florida’s pat-down policy is now under the microscope.
The “Routine” Stop That Wasn’t
On Monday at 10 a.m., a Marion County deputy pulled over 22-year-old Harden for a traffic violation.
After discovering meth, marijuana and paraphernalia on her person, the deputy cuffed Harden—hands firmly behind her back—conducted two pat-downs, then loaded her into the back of his patrol SUV, thinking all contraband had been confiscated.
Cue the Plot Twist
Cruising south on S Highway near the 2900 block, the deputy expected calm.
Instead, Harden—still handcuffed—reached around her front hip, produced a handgun “that would fit in the palm of my hand,” and opened fire.
The Deputy instantly swerved, smashing the SUV into a utility pole.
He returned fire before seeking cover.
Miraculously, both emerged alive; the deputy suffered only a graze near his right eye, while Harden took rounds to her shoulder and hip.
“It is hard to understand until you see it,” said Lt. Paul Bloom of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
“[It was a] handgun…tucked away in her crutch area.”
Bloom confirmed Harden had been searched “twice by this deputy,” yet the tiny weapon slipped through unnoticed.
Pat-Down Policy Under Fire
Florida’s Department of Law Enforcement has launched a formal probe, and the Sheriff’s Office is conducting its own internal review before sending findings to the State Attorney.
Naturally, everyone’s now asking: why wasn’t that gun found during the searches?
“Our protocol uses female deputies for pat-downs when available,” Bloom explained, “but we can’t delay an arrest just because one isn’t on scene.
When we arrest you, we’re taking your freedom—we can’t unnecessarily slow you down, even on a traffic stop.”
Expert Weighs In
Dr. David Tomas, a forensics professor at Florida Gulf Coast University and former law-enforcement officer, offers context: officers are trained to use the back of their hands when patting down female suspects, “literally to search these areas…as you go down the body, to make sure there are no weapons or drugs.”
“The groin is fair game,” Dr. Tomas continued. “That’s where drugs are hidden and that’s where weapons are hidden. We press against parts of the body to ensure nothing is missed.”
Apparently, Harden’s petite 9 mm slipped past both sweeps—proof that even seasoned deputies can’t replace a well-timed frisk.
Charges Galore
Harden’s original lineup of charges—Possession of Methamphetamine, Marijuana, Paraphernalia, False ID and Driving With a Suspended License—just got a turbo boost.
Now she faces Attempted Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Escaping Lawful Custody, Fraud and more.
She’s locked up without bond at Marion County Jail, presumably under 24/7 strip-search surveillance.
Lessons Learned?
Lt. Bloom hinted the department might tweak its search policies—perhaps incorporating a “pants peel” into every arrest.
“You’d be surprised what people can hide when you only skim the surface,” he mused.
Defense attorney Marisol Vega quipped, “Handcuffs and cursory searches offer about as much security as a hole in your sock.”
In other words, don’t underestimate the evasive talents of a determined detainee —where handcuffs are a suggestion and hidden guns are an art form.
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