Man sentenced to 14 years after assaulting, spitting on VB officers
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – A man has been sentenced to serve 14 years in prison for assaulting several officers in May of 2023.
According to officials, on May 6, 2023, 33-year-old Dean Anton Vitasek was seen by a Virginia Beach Police officer driving without a front license plate. Vitasek then pulled into a nearby 7-Eleven and entered the store, ignoring comments from the officer to stop.
After the officer determined Vitasek was wanted for outstanding warrants, another officer arrived to the scene in order to assist in taking Vitasek into custody.
As one of the officers attempted to grab Vitasek's wrist, he stated he had a gun, reached for his waistband and began fighting the officers, stating multiple times he would "shoot them and kill them." During the altercation, Vitaskek split blood in the officers' faces, bit one officer, punched and kicked both officers and attempted to disarm an officer of his Taser.
Eventually, Vitasek was subdued and put in handcuffs after multiple responding officers arrived to the scene. No guns were found in Vitasek's possession, police said.
Officers then conducted a search of Vitasek's vehicle, where they found narcotics, syringes with blood and residue and a straw with residue. Vitasek was then taken to a local hospital for observation.
After being released from the hospital the following day, Vitasek attempted yet again to escape from officers, biting, scratching and spitting on officers before eventually being restrained.
According to police, Vitasek continually lied to officers about his identity, providing them with a false name and date of birth.
As a result of the incident, Vitasek was charged malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer, eight counts of assault and battery of a law enforcement officer, remove/deprive officer of firearm of stun gun, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of a schedule I/II drug, two counts of obstruction of justice and false identification to avoid arrest. He was found guilty of these charges after a trial on July 2, 2024.
Vitasek had previous convictions, including petit larceny, destruction of property, grand larceny, trespassing, public intoxication, possession of rug paraphernalia, possession of schedule I/II drug, DUI, obtaining money by false pretenses, assault on a law enforcement officer and multiple probation violations and traffic offenses.
On Nov. 4, 2024, Circuit Court Judge Salvatore R. Iaquinto sentenced Vitasek to serve a total of 14 years in prison, exceeding the high-end of the recommended sentencing of nine years and two months to serve.
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