Judge Rejects Stand Your Ground Defense in St. Cloud Road-Rage Incident

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A judge has dismissed a man’s self-defense claim under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law following an incident where he allegedly injured an off-duty Orange County sheriff’s deputy amid a road rage altercation in St. Cloud.

Daniel Siekawitch is now set to go to trial, facing charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Jury selection for his case is slated to commence on Wednesday, February 25.

During a hearing held on Monday in Osceola County, Siekawitch asserted that he was the one who felt endangered during the altercation.

According to Siekawitch, the incident originated as a road rage clash and intensified when the other driver pursued him into a parking lot where he and his wife were headed.

“As I stepped out, I noticed he was still coming towards me, so I lifted my hand hoping the sight of the knife would deter him from engaging in a physical confrontation,” Siekawitch recounted in his testimony.

Authorities have identified the other driver involved as Jamal Morris, who serves as an off-duty deputy with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

According to testimony and court records, both men got out of their vehicles after the confrontation moved into the parking lot. Siekawitch said he grabbed a knife from his car to deter what he believed could turn into a physical fight.

He testified that he then noticed Morris was armed with a handgun.

Siekawitch said his military training took over, and he attempted to take Morris to the ground. He said the cut to Morris’ shoulder was accidental.

“I brought the knife up like this, sort of like a stabbing motion. But it wasn’t my intent to stab him. It was to wrap him up,” he testified.

Both Siekawitch and Morris stood during the hearing and demonstrated for the judge how the knife was held during the confrontation.

Prosecutors argued Siekawitch escalated the situation by introducing a knife.

His defense attorney argued he was justified in defending himself and his wife.

“The reason he grabbed his knife was to prevent this individual from trying to attack him or his wife, or trying to do some physical harm to them,” his attorney said.

But the judge rejected that argument, ruling Siekawitch was not legally justified in using force under the circumstances.

“When you brandish a weapon at someone, the way you’re deterring them is telling them, ‘I’m about to do death or great bodily harm to you,’” the judge said. “He had no legal justification. No objective person would feel that was necessary under the circumstances.”

With Stand Your Ground immunity denied, Siekawitch will now face a jury, which will decide whether his actions were self-defense or a crime.

He remains charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.