Armed man arrested after standoff

An armed, 43-year-old Tavernier man who barricaded himself inside a home Tuesday night and threatened to shoot and kill Sheriff’s Office deputies was arrested after being shocked by a Taser.

“Any threats to kill law enforcement officers are taken with the utmost seriousness,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. “I’m very happy and relieved that we were able to take this suspect into custody without serious injury to our deputies, to him and others. This situation could have had a much different ending, but thanks to our deputies — who rose to the occasion during a very stressful shift — everyone was able to go home to their families, except those arrested. To them and to everyone in Monroe County, I say: This sort of behavior will never be tolerated in the Florida Keys. Period.”

Robert Joseph Sanchez was charged with threatening law enforcement officers, resisting arrest with violence and resisting arrest without violence.

The incident began shortly after 8 p.m. when the Sheriff’s Office was called to 154 Dubonnet Road near Mile Marker 92.2 oceanside regarding a loud music complaint.

Deputies Cody Jackson and Jose Hernandez were the first to arrive on scene. Two males, one of them later identified as Sanchez, and one female were near the backdoor.

Sanchez told deputies the Sheriff’s Office has been to the house before for similar reasons. Sanchez refused to provide identification using expletives. Sanchez stated he should have hurt deputies who responded to his house on a previous date. Sanchez began yelling. Both Sanchez and the other male, identified as Jared Joseph Jennings, 21, began acting aggressive, by tensing up and stepping toward the deputies. Both deputies drew their Tasers and ordered both men outside. Both suspects began pulling away. Deputy Hernandez was able to detain Jennings, but Sanchez fled upstairs. The woman, later identified as Theresa Mary Hammontree, 46, who was on scene blocked deputies trying to detain Sanchez by spreading her arms and legs and blocking the doorway.

Hammontree and Jennings, 21, were both arrested shortly thereafter and charged with obstruction without violence.

For the next two hours, Sanchez paced from balconies while speaking to deputies outside and to 911 communication specialists via phone. Sanchez threatened to shoot and kill deputies who attempted to get near him, while claiming he did nothing wrong.

More deputies arrived and surrounded the home. The Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiator were called.

About 10 p.m., deputies were able to get a safe shot at Sanchez with a Taser, which worked and he was taken into custody without further incident. Deputies realized at that time that Sanchez had been armed with a .380 pistol. There were no serious injuries reported.

The SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiator were ultimately not needed in the incident.

Sanchez, Jennings and Hammontree were all taken to jail.

 

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