Police in Florida have released a dramatic body camera video capturing the moment a burglary suspect, armed with a sword, was tased by deputies after he allegedly refused to drop the weapon.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office reported that officers responded early Tuesday in Gainesville after receiving a call about a man who had entered a home with a sword, forcing the residents outside against their will.
Upon arrival, a deputy can be heard urging the suspect, 26-year-old Josiah Smith, to relinquish the sword. “Hey, brother, do me a favor, drop the sword. Drop the sword on the ground, my man. Let me talk to you, OK? It’s the sheriff’s office,” he said, trying to de-escalate the situation.
Despite the deputy’s cautious approach, the suspect continued to move towards the officers. “Hey, we got him at gunpoint, he’s not compliant, he keeps approaching,” the deputy communicated to his colleagues.
As tensions escalated, the deputy commanded, “Josiah, throw the sword away, OK? Hey, stop, stop! Don’t move, stop. Stop, stop!” Ultimately, the bodycam footage shows Smith collapsing backward after being tased.
The sheriff’s office explained that Smith had not followed the deputies’ lawful commands to drop the sword or get on the ground. Attempts to subdue him with a non-lethal foam round were unsuccessful, leading to the taser deployment and his subsequent detention.
Following the incident, an investigation indicated that Smith and the victims were not acquainted. He is now facing multiple charges, including armed burglary of an occupied dwelling, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed kidnapping, and resisting without violence.
