Virginia Officer Faces New Felony Charges After Gunpoint Incident

Officer Faces New Felony Charges After Alleged Incident

A Poquoson police officer is now facing four new felony charges, including two counts of abduction and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office has linked these charges to an alleged incident that occurred on April 19 in Yorktown. Michael Disanto, the officer involved, is accused of holding his neighbor and a teenager at gunpoint during the event.

The incident reportedly began when a 17-year-old driver fell asleep while driving on Blue Heron Drive and crashed into Disanto’s parked police vehicle. After the collision, the teenager could not find his cellphone and went back to seek help from a neighbor friend, identified in court records as 65-year-old Russell Vogt. Vogt lives just a few houses down the street.

Vogt and the teenager then started walking back toward the crash scene with the intent to exchange information. According to Vogt's account, he was suddenly blinded by a bright light and heard someone yell, “I have a gun and I will shoot you. Get on the ground.” Vogt stated he did not recall hearing the person identify himself as a police officer. Both Vogt and the teen complied immediately and laid face down in the street with their hands.

Vogt later told investigators that he suffered scraped elbows and a scraped knee after being forced onto the pavement. The affidavit notes that Vogt has a pacemaker. Court records state that Vogt was unarmed, holding only a cellphone. The teen reportedly gave investigators a nearly identical account, saying he feared he would be shot if he failed to comply.

According to the affidavit, Disanto’s body camera begins recording when Vogt and the teen are already on the ground while Disanto points his firearm. The affidavit states that both of them are visible due to nearby streetlights and the mounted light on Disanto’s pistol.

Details of the Incident

Investigators interviewed Disanto two days after the incident. According to court records, Disanto said he heard what sounded like an “explosion” outside his home. The affidavit states that Disanto told investigators he put on his police vest, which displayed his name and badge, and radioed dispatch before grabbing his duty pistol.

Disanto reportedly told investigators he believed the driver was fleeing and said he was trying to protect his home. He also reportedly claimed he was stopping what he believed was a felony hit-and-run involving a government vehicle.

According to the court documents, Disanto stepped from behind a bush and began “throwing out commands,” describing them as: “Poquoson police, come back, put your hands up … the whole nine yards.” The incident happened nearly two miles outside Poquoson city limits.

Legal Proceedings and Findings

According to the affidavit, investigators concluded that Disanto “could neither act as an officer or a citizen conducting an arrest because the crash itself was not a felony.”

Disanto, an officer with 20 years of experience, is currently on administrative leave, the police department confirmed. He was arrested on May 1 and initially charged with two counts of assault and battery, two counts of brandishing a firearm, and one count of reckless handling of a firearm. Those charges and the new ones were presented during a May 14 hearing in York General District Court.

The case is still ongoing, and 10 On Your Side will continue to follow this story as it plays out in court proceedings.