A sheriff invited homeowners in a Florida county to attend a gun safety course to "learn how to shoot much better" and "save taxpayer money."
Bob Johnson, sheriff of Santa Rosa County (located in the north of the state, next to Pensacola) made these comments during a press conference held last Thursday on the arrest of a 32-year-old man accused of breaking into houses.
Several residents had called 911 for emergencies on Wednesday to report break-ins;
Officers set up a security perimeter, Johnson said, but the suspect jumped over fences and entered homes as officers tried to catch him.
Johnson at the press conference.
Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office.
“We don't know who owns the house that shot him.
I guess they think they've done something wrong, but they haven't," Johnson said.
“If someone is breaking into your home you are more than welcome to shoot them in Santa Rosa County.
In fact, we prefer that you do,” he added.
He added that the sheriff's office holds a gun safety course two Saturdays a month: "If you take it, you'll shoot a lot better and hopefully save taxpayers money," he concluded.
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The agents arrested the alleged thief after being shot.
When they broke down a door he was trying to block, the man dove headfirst out a window to escape, cutting himself.
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The man has a criminal history dating back to when he was 13 years old, Johnson said.
He had spent more than six years in prison and had felony arrest warrants at the time of his capture.
He is now being held on $157,500 bond.
"You don't seem to realize that crime is not profitable," he said.
Johnson said he ran for sheriff by reminding residents that he is a police officer, not a politician.
He added that he receives overwhelming support from the community.
"I tell everyone that 99% of the people here love law enforcement and the other 1% are in my jail right now," he said in an interview with Fox News.
