Florida authorities on Monday launched video footage of a lethal police capturing that left a suspect with a prolonged legal background lifeless and his hostage injured over the weekend.
The capturing occurred Sunday night time when bondsmen had been in search of 53-year-old Ronnie Clark for a warrant over his failure to look in courtroom on drug expenses, Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons instructed reporters throughout a information convention.
Clark had an extended legal historical past, with 58 felony convictions, and he was incarcerated thrice.
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons explains a lethal capturing through which a suspected hostage-taker was shot and killed by a deputy. (Escambia County Sheriff’s Workplace)
Deputies arrived round 5 p.m. to serve a warrant on Clark and located him in a tent with a girl being held in opposition to her will, authorities mentioned. He additionally emailed and texted others saying he was “going to shoot it out with deputies,” Simmons mentioned.
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A five-hour standoff ensued as authorities tried negotiating with Clark. A sheriff’s drone confirmed Clark holding a knife to the girl’s throat, Simmons mentioned.
“This robust man has acquired her as a human defend,” he mentioned.
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A deputy approached Clark and the hostage and fired a single shot, killing him. Simmons mentioned the bullet fired at Clark might have struck the hostage. She is recovering in a hospital, he mentioned.
Ronnie Clark, 53, has dozens of felony convictions and had been incarcerated thrice. (Escambia County Sheriff’s Workplace)
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“In conditions like this, we care about human life. We care extra in regards to the hostage than the hostage-taker,” Simmons mentioned. “The deputy had a chance to attempt to finish this, as a result of we can not let this automobile go. Our legal escalated these occasions, and it value him his life.”
The Florida Division of Legislation Enforcement is now investigating the incident and the deputy who fired the shot was positioned on administrative go away, authorities mentioned.
