April 21, 2018
Crestview, FL – Shortly after 2:30 a.m. Saturday, April 21, 2018, the Crestview Police Department responded to 138 Bronze Circle in Crestview, after receiving a 911 telephone call from a concerned neighbor, who observed the front door of the residence was standing open. Two Crestview Police Department officers were dispatched to the residence.
When officers arrived on scene, they observed the front door of the residence was open and rang the doorbell, knocked and called for the attention of anyone inside of the residence. After several attempts to call for persons inside, there was no reply. Officers entered through the open door of the residence to confirm if anyone was inside.
As officers began to clear the home, an unknown male, who was later identified as the owner of the home, walked out of a bedroom and encountered one of the officers with a firearm in his hand. The officer fired his weapon striking the man in the thigh. The resident immediately dropped his weapon and identified himself as the home owner. The officers and the resident applied first aid on the gunshot wound and Okaloosa County EMS arrived a short time later and transported the resident to North Okaloosa Medical Center, with non-life-threatening injuries. He was released a short time later.
As a matter of procedure, the Crestview Police Department contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct the investigation into the officer involved shooting.
At this time, the investigation has been referred to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and is pending the conclusion of their investigation.
This is an active and ongoing investigation. The officer involved in the shooting incident has been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation.