JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A local father who was shot at by a Jacksonville Sheriff's officer during a traffic stop Monday night said when he heard the gunfire, he believed either he or his 6-year-old daughter had been hit.
Police said 29-year-old Brian Dennison was driving erratically -- cutting through a parking lot to avoid stopping at a traffic light and making other traffic infractions, as well as having expired tags -- when Officer J.C. Garcia pulled in behind the car to make a traffic stop.
Officers said Dennison didn't stop right away, finally turning into the Plantation Apartments, pulling into a parking spot and getting out of his car.
Dennison told News4Jax on Tuesday that he did not stop sooner because he was trying to help his daughter, who was having an asthma attack.
"Last night was very scary," Dennison said. "I have my daughter in the car with me, coming home from the basketball court, and she was having an asthma attack at the time, and I was trying to rush her back to the house."
Dennison (pictured) said he attempted to wave down the officer who followed him, telling him to "hold on" as he was getting out of the car.
"The cop still proceeded to come toward me, and I had my hands up," Dennison said. "I was explaining to him the situation with my daughter, and he took a shot at me -- while my daughter was in my hands."
Dennison said he thought at that moment either he or Arianna had been shot.
Police said Garcia apparently thought Dennison was armed and didn't realize there was a child in the car when one shot was fired and missed.
"That shot really scared me," said Arianna.
After he fired the shot, Garcia lowered his gun and allowed Dennison to retrieve Arianna's inhaler.
Arianna's mother, Nacoya Ransom, also said the girl was having an asthma attack at the time, which is why her dad was speeding home when the officer spotted him.
"She was just having a hard time breathing," said Ransom. "She's doing a lot better now."
But Dennison said Garcia's actions traumatized his little girl.
"You never want your child to be in any situation like that," Dennison said. "She's only 6 years old, so for her to be in fear and for her father to show fearfulness -- in hindsight I'm her protector, so for me to be scared and for her to be scared was not a good sight for her."
Dennison, who was later arrested and charged with driving without a valid license, had a first appearance before a judge Tuesday. Police didn't charge Dennison with anything related to the shooting.
Garcia remains on patrol, while the incident is under investigation.
Garcia has been with JSO for five years and will go before a panel once the investigation is complete to determine if he violated any department policies when firing his weapon.