Hawthorne man shot by deputies who were responding to a report that he was suicidal has now been arrested for threatening a deputy
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
HAWTHORNE, Fla. – Michael Vernon Garrett, 69, has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer after allegedly threatening to shoot deputies who responded to a report that he was suicidal.
The incident began on March 25, 2022, when Garrett’s wife called 911, saying her husband was intoxicated and threatening to shoot himself. Garrett was initially inside their house, but he came outside on the porch after deputies arrived. Deputies reported that Garrett did not comply with repeated commands to put down his handgun and made multiple statements that he wanted the deputies to shoot him. Garrett also allegedly made multiple threats to harm deputies if they did not shoot him. At one point, he reportedly left the porch and approached deputies; he was then shot by a deputy and was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound in the abdomen.
Following an investigation, a sworn complaint was filed on August 12, charging Garrett with aggravated assault on a deputy. A formal charge was filed on November 8, and a warrant was issued by Judge Phillip Pena on November 15 with a recommended bond of $25,000. Garrett was arrested yesterday.
Garrett has no criminal history, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $10,000 with conditions that he surrender all his firearms and be fitted with a GPS monitor. Garrett has posted bond and has been released.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.Â
Your not allowed to shot yourself, the cops will do it for you.
It is nice to see that the gentleman who has no criminal history, was not Baker Acted. Let’s arrest him and put him in jail and not get him the help he obviously needs. Jail is a horrible place for people with mental needs. No matter what anyone tells you, when you are in jail you do not get any help with mental health at all.
I know what I am talking about. When is this world going to WAKE UP and get people the help they so desperately need? Our law enforcement system is really lacking and uncaring. Even if you aren’t trained in helping people with mental illness, common sense and a heart for helping people should kick in! If we would help the people that need help, crime would likely go down.
Part 1: stop the threat. Done.
Part 2: there is no help. Confine him and move on.
Part 3: Recognize that some people are not available for help, will not cooperate or take medicine, and do not want what you have in mind for them.
Read the article again. They don’t publish baker act. This incident occurred Nov 8th and the warrant was issued the 15th. They didn’t shoot him and leave, he was given medical care and evaluated and then a week later the appropriate charge was filed.
Actually, Glenn, read the article again…”The incident began on March 25, 2022.”