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On Wednesday, October 23, at 12:15 p.m., Charlotte County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a disturbance call on Sandy Pine Drive in Punta Gorda.
Elroy Clarke, the property owner, had reported his tenant was acting erratically and disturbing the peace.
Two deputies arrived and initially spoke with Clarke, who had not yet been identified by name. Deputy #1 then interviewed the tenant and other individuals on the property.
During these conversations, the deputy learned Clarke might have an outstanding warrant. Deputies quickly confirmed Clarke’s identity through a photo and verified his active warrant.
🚨 BREAKING: Charlotte County FL. Sheriff Bill Prummell just released police BODYCAM video to avoid the next BLM hoax after deputies shot and killed a man that they were attempting to arrest on a warrant that charged an officer and grabbed his firearm. This is a justified… pic.twitter.com/4StEJGwQFB
— Vlad Tweets (@ANN_News92) October 26, 2024
As Deputy #1 approached Clarke to detain him, Clarke denied his identity and gave a false name. When informed of the warrant, he became visibly agitated and ignored commands to place his hands behind his back.
Despite Clarke insisting he was “calm,” he warned deputies, saying, “It was not about to be.”
After repeated warnings, Deputy #1 deployed a taser, but it had little effect. Pepper spray was similarly ineffective. Clarke continued to resist, warning deputies that “they were going to see something they don’t want to see.”
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For nearly five minutes, deputies attempted to de-escalate the situation, urging Clarke to surrender peacefully. Clarke, however, demanded the deputies hit or shoot him.
A third deputy arrived to assist, and Deputy #1 informed him that both a taser and pepper spray had failed.
Deputy #3 deployed his taser, but Clarke remained on his feet. When Deputy #1 attempted to push him down, Clarke resisted, evading efforts by all three deputies to restrain him.
No law enforcement officer wants to use deadly force.
— police.law.news (@policelawnews) October 27, 2024
The few who are forced into a terrible situation, by a violent maniac – it stays with them.
Here is the immediate reaction of the deputy who shot & killed Elroy Clarke.
*For context – the OIS was 100% reasonable. pic.twitter.com/87L5HMCvnX
Even after deploying multiple bean bag rounds, Clarke charged at Deputy #3, who had drawn his service weapon.
As Clarke made contact with Deputy #3, both Deputy #1 and Deputy #3 discharged their weapons, striking Clarke.
Deputies immediately administered CPR and other medical aid until Charlotte County Fire paramedics arrived. Clarke was pronounced dead at the scene.
One deputy sustained a head injury during the altercation but was treated and released from the hospital. No other individuals were harmed.
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As a former LEO, this incident clearly demonstrates the challenges involved in dealing with a TASK ORIENTED individual. For someone who has identified a specific goal (not being detained in this instance), and is dead set on achieving that goal, non-lethal methods of control seldom work. Sometimes the individual is under the influence of an illicit substance, but often it’s just an incredibly determined person with a “I WILL WIN” mindset. Most officers are trained to recognize this behavior, and respond accordingly.
As free citizens, we can benefit from developing our own abilities to become Task Oriented in defensive situations. We must decide BEFOREHAND that we will not only survive, but that we will prevail. For those of us who have Faith and recognize God’s Ultimate Control, this mindset is just as applicable. Even as we recognize His ability to protect and sustain us, we must still stand strong to protect the loved ones He has given us as family and friends.
Here we go again, another BLM knucklehead that refuses to follow law enforcements’ commands and ends up paying the ultimate price for it. What is it with these people? I guess this one have a death wish – suicide by cop.
Unfortunately this cop is probably psychologically scarred for life because he had to take someone’s life. Obviously he had a nervous breakdown immediately afterwards. And it’s a wonder one of his fellow officers, or worst yet an innocent by-stander, wasn’t accidently shot because it sounds like he panicked and emptied his magazine in a fit of terror.
And to the officer involved, I hope and pray you are able to understand you did the job you are paid to do and the dirtbag left you no choice. Seek counseling to help you deal with this, hug your family, put it behind you, and move on. Thank you for cleaning the ‘gene pool’.
I guess now it’s time for the NAACP, the “reverend” Jessie, Al, Whoopie, Oprah – and Lord knows else who to call on the BLM community to loot and pillage the country in protest. Maybe have a community BBQ and release balloons.
Okay, so the man had a warrant for arrest, and they could not get him cuffed. I do not think the officers needed to kill an unarmed man. If three could not handle him, get some more help.
A lot of police depts do not have the man power to send an entire squad of officers to an incident that is currently in progress. Did you watch the video? The suspect charged the PO. You sound like a Kamala supporter.
Are you serious? Did you read the article? They tried every non-lethal device they had and nothing worked. AND he wouldn’t just simply follow the officers’ commands. An “unarmed” man hyped up on PCP, meth. or other drug can kill you as easy as an armed suspect, especially if he, or she, over powers an officer and takes their weapon and uses it on them. This isn’t ‘hand-to-hand’ combat.
It’s very simple – follow the officers’ commands and have your day in court. Otherwise be prepared to pay the consequences.
@Mothes, I 100% agree with you. After serving 31 yrs in law enforcement, I had the unfortunate event to have handled three individuals in three different occasions in cocaine psychosis. This is the time period where, there were no tasers, or bean bags, just a PR24 baton and your physical strength. Each of my encounters were different but it took all my physical strength and that all of several officers to control these individuals. We did not utilized deadly force. The problem today is officers rely on their taser, and other means of non deadly force, and when that fails their brain turns into “oh, shit, what know scenario”. What ever happened to defensive tactics training and being physically fit to handle yourself? The comment made that some department don’t have enough man power is a joke, what about mutual aid from The state, city or county police. You don’t shoot an unarmed man. Is hard to come to a conclusion based on what’s presented here but if this person was actively trying to disarm an officer I can see justification but charging at someone does not. Just cause your non deadly force doesn’t work, specially with several officers around doesn’t justify shooting the person. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to go hands on with someone, (yes fighting) and yes you will get hurt but that’s police work!!!
SP, I sure as HELL am no Kamala supporter!!!!!!! I have voted the Republic ticket ever since I was old enough to vote. So, take your stupid comment and shove it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!