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One Hospitalized After Officer Involved Shooting
07/03/09 - 08:25 AM

WMBB News Department

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One man is in the hospital after an officer involved shooting early Friday morning.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement says it began with a call for medical assistance at 5135 Bertha Nelson Rd. off Highway 231 in Bayou George.  According to the FDLE, Deputies arrived to find a domestic disturbance. 

The FDLE says a deputy shot a male suspect after he threatened them with a weapon.  The Bay County Sheriff’s Office identifies the man as Dustin Garland, 27.  Garland was taken to Bay Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries.  Hospital officials tell us he is in stable condition.

The FDLE is investigating the case.

The following was released Friday morning by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office:

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call this morning at 5:37 from a woman requesting help because her husband was acting erratically. Deputies responded by 5:40 to the residence at 5135 Berthe Nelson Road. 

When the first BCSO deputy arrived, the subject came outside the mobile home. She noticed he was acting confrontational and erratic. The deputy called for assistance and two other deputies responded. The subject had gone back into the home and the deputies spoke with the wife, gathering information.

While speaking with the subject’s wife, the deputies saw the subject, still inside the home,  move in front of a window, holding a 30.06 rifle and pointing it at the deputies. As the deputies attempted to move to a safer location, the subject stepped outside onto the front porch armed with the high-powered rifle and fired one shot with the rifle pointed in an upward direction. At that point the subject lowered the rifle, pointing it towards the deputies, who began to yell at him, demanding he drop the rifle.

As the subject pointed the high powered rifle at deputies, Deputy Chad Vidrine fired multiple rounds at the subject, hitting him five times. Deputies were able at that time to secure the subject and get his rifle, neutralizing the confrontation.

After the scene was secured, it was learned that there were three small children within the home.

Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen has requested the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct the investigation, a normal process when an officer is involved in a shooting.

Per Bay County Sheriff’s Office policy, Deputy Vidrine has been placed on administrative leave pending administrative review.

Though the investigation is still in its initial phase, Sheriff Frank McKeithen commends his deputies for their professionalism and quick action which resulted in no other injuries to deputies or the family.

Dustin Garland, 27 years of age, was taken to a local hospital where he remains in guarded condition awaiting further medical treatment.

Sheriff McKeithen added the following statement: “A 30.06 high powered rifle verses a .40 caliber handgun—and certain people criticized and complained that deputies were getting rifles?”

-30-

Prepared by R. Corley
Information by Sheriff F. McKeithen
Approved by Sheriff F. McKeithen