The sheriff in Polk County, Florida, encouraged residents in his county to shoot any potential looters that break into their homes, according to a news conference held on Tuesday, June 2.
This came after the authorities had received some information on social media regarding violent protests that might take place in Polk County, Sheriff Grady Judd stated during the news conference.
Judd stated that while protesting is within an individual’s constitutional right, it is important to do so peacefully. Judd said that the authorities will do everything they can to protect an individual’s constitutional right to protest, so as long as it is done peacefully.
Moreover, Judd praised the actions of the peaceful protesters and expressed admiration for them in a statement issued by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook, writing, “My heart is full with gratitude for our community today. Monday night we had zero incidents of protest-related violence. There were three protests in Polk County—all were peaceful—there was no sign of outside agitators.”
However, Judd cautioned that should anyone turn to violence, rioting, or any similar conduct whilst protesting, then authorities will act to arrest these individuals.
“Let there be no misunderstanding, if you come here to riot, to loot, to injure people, we’re going to lock you up in the county jail. We are going to hunt you down and lock you up if you engage in any criminal conduct,” Judd stated.
Judd during the news conference also gave his warning to those considering breaking into and looting homes in Polk County to leave the county alone, stating that the residents in the county will fight back.
“If you value your life, you probably shouldn’t do that in Polk County,” Judd stated, addressing the individuals who considered looting homes in the county, “because the people of Polk County like guns, they have guns, I encourage them to own guns, and they’re going to be in their homes tonight with their guns loaded, and if you try to break into their homes to steal, to set fires, I’m highly recommending they blow you back out of the house with their guns.”
In the statement, Judd further addressed this issue, writing, “for those who want to come in, stealthily, among those wonderful people who are simply making their position known, the ones that tried to infiltrate, we are going to hunt you down and lock you up if you engage in any criminal conduct.”
Governor Ron DeSantis also addressed the rioters in a tweet on Monday and thanked the local authorities for keeping Florida safe.
“Florida has zero tolerance for violence, rioting & looting. George Floyd’s murder was appalling & the MN perpetrators need to be brought to justice, but this cannot be used as a pretext for violence in our communities,” DeSantis wrote.
