NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (AP) - A man with a criminal past came to the aid of a Pasco County Sheriff's deputy who was in a violent struggle with a man he was taking to jail.
    
Authorities say 35-year-old Anthony Stinnett was at a convenience store on Jan. 4 when he saw a patrol car pull up.
    
Stinnett told the Tampa Bay Times (http://bit.ly/VrgWOX ) he heard loud thumping before the car's window shattered and Osvaldo Flores jumped out and attacked Deputy John Brown.
    
Stinnett says he ran across the parking lot and pried Flores' handcuffed arms away from Brown's throat. Flores tried to run, but Stinnett tackled him. Stinnett and Brown held him down until backup arrived.
    
Flores remains in jail. Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco plans to recognize Stinnett during an awards ceremony next week.
    
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Information from: Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.), http://www.tampabay.com.

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