Florida police are searching for a convicted child sex abuser who allegedly shot a sheriff's deputy multiple times late Tuesday.
An unidentified Taylor County deputy who was seriously injured was airlifted with life-threatening injuries, according to a Florida Highway Patrol spokesman.
A blue alert was issued after 11.30 pm. for the suspected gunman, identified as 33-year-old Gregory Ryan Miedema.
They were last seen on US 19 near Deer Run Road in Perry, about 50 miles southeast of Tallahassee
According to the FHP, the incident happened six miles south of Salem.
Police did not provide details as to what caused the shooting.
A registered sex offender, Miedema was convicted in 2011 while serving in the US military on one count of having sex with a minor and possessing child pornography.
According to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, which lists state criminals, he was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison, followed by two months of probation.
Miedema, who is listed at 5-foot-8, 165 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes, recently relocated and moved to Sarasota.
Not under the supervision of the pre-election Florida Department of Corrections, however, she was not allowed to live within 1,000 feet of a school, daycare facility, park, or playground.
He can travel in a 2000 gold Chrysler Sebring with Florida license plate tag Y78TKU. The vehicle gets a dark colored convertible top. She was reportedly wearing a dark colored tank top.
Law enforcement officers warned not to approach the dangerous ex-serviceman.
A Blue Alert is issued when a law enforcement officer is seriously injured, struck by a subject or goes missing in the line of duty in circumstances that cause concern for the safety of the law enforcement officer.