Homicide suspect arrested after 3-hour standoff when FLOCK catches his tag

Date Added: August 24, 2026 1:14 pm

On Sunday, VSO deputies received a BOLO from the Altamonte Springs Police Department on a black Ram pickup driven by homicide suspect John Schmalz-Riedt, who was believed to be armed with a handgun. The homicide was reported around 3:15 p.m. Sunday.

Around 4:30 p.m., an LPR caught the truck's tag in Volusia County, and a deputy got behind it southbound on SR 415. After an attempted traffic stop, Schmalz-Riedt refused to stop and continued south.

Another deputy deployed stop sticks and struck a rear tire of the Ram. After that, as the truck turned from 415 onto Howland Boulevard, the pursuing deputy initiated a PIT maneuver, leading the Ram to come to a stop in the woodline. Deputies then contained the vehicle and conducted a high-risk traffic stop, with Schmalz-Riedt not complying with commands.

Deputies made contact with him via phone, but a standoff continued for about 3 hours. The suspect was confirmed to be armed, and he would not commit to coming out of the truck peacefully. Eventually, around 8:30 p.m., he surrendered to SWAT deputies and was taken into custody.

Schmalz-Riedt, 65, is charged with fleeing by VSO, and 2nd degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon by Altamonte Springs PD. He is currently being held without bond in the Volusia County Branch Jail.

Multiple units and resources played a role in the safe resolution of this call, including VSO patrol, Flock LPRs, 911 dispatch, investigations, SWAT, Bearcat, Rook, Air One, drone operators, K-9, trained negotiators, Volusia County Crime Center analysts and Altamonte Springs PD.