GAINESVILLE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Florida man was tased and arrested Tuesday after deputies say he forced his way into a home while armed with a sword and refused commands to drop the weapon.
Deputies with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office say they responded to a residence in the 3400 block of NW 91st Street in Gainesville during the early morning hours for a reported armed burglary.
The caller told deputies a man had forced his way into the home with a sword and forced the occupants outside against their will, according to the sheriff’s office.
When deputies arrived, they found 26-year-old Josiah Smith still holding the sword, the sheriff’s office said.
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Bodycam footage shows the deputy attempted to establish a rapport with Smith, calmly asking him to drop the weapon and give his name. Smith refused to comply with deputies’ commands to drop the sword or get on the ground.
Deputies then used a less-lethal launcher, reportedly firing a foam round at Smith in an attempt to get him to drop the sword. When that was unsuccessful, deputies deployed a Taser and detained Smith.
Investigators determined Smith and the victim did not know each other.
Smith was arrested and charged with armed burglary of an occupied dwelling, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed kidnapping and resisting without violence.