DRUG DEAL TRIAL ENDS IN 15-YEAR PRISON TERM

BRADENTON -- A man shot by police in a botched undercover drug deal in
which the alleged dealer struck officers with a car was sentenced
Thursday to 15 years in prison.

Police were trying to arrest Donatelli Brantley, 27, in the parking
lot of the KFC restaurant downtown in May when he sped off, knocking a
detective over. Two officers opened fire. A bullet penetrated a KFC
window.

Brantley, according to police, was supposed to deliver heroin to an
informant. But police rushed the car before the drug deal happened. A
detective, dragged 15 feet, suffered a head injury.

Brantley, shot in his leg, surrendered the next day. At trial, he said
he panicked and did not intend to hurt the men who ran up to his car.
Police found a small bag of cocaine in the car Brantley drove.

Assistant State Attorney Andrew Mikos said Brantley knew the men were
police and that he did not want to get arrested. Citing injuries to
three officers, Mikos pushed for a 30-year prison term.

The verdict disgusted Brantley's family. His girlfriend left the
courtroom, slamming the door. A juror said the verdict was "difficult"
to reach.