Alachua County deputies in Gainesville, Florida, tased 26-year-old Josiah Smith after he refused to drop a sword during a home invasion, according to body camera footage released by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office. The incident occurred early Tuesday when officers responded to a call stating that a man had forced his way into a home with a sword and forced the residents outside against their will.
Upon arrival, a deputy was heard addressing Smith, asking him to drop the sword on the ground so the officers could talk. The deputy then informed other officers that Smith was at gunpoint but non-compliant and kept approaching. The audio captures the deputy yelling commands for Smith to stop moving and throw the weapon away before the footage shows Smith falling backward after being tased.
The Alachua County Sheriff's Office explained that Smith was non-compliant with lawful commands to drop the sword or get on the ground. Deputies first used a less-lethal launcher to shoot a foam round at Smith in an attempt to make him drop the weapon. After that attempt was unsuccessful, deputies deployed a taser, resulting in Smith's detention.
An investigation by the sheriff's office determined that Smith and the alleged victim did not know each other. Smith has been taken into custody and is now accused of four counts, including burglary of an occupied dwelling with a weapon, aggravated assault using a deadly weapon, kidnapping with a weapon, and resisting arrest without violence.