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BWC: Man arrested after shooting flare gun at Fla. deputy, taking off his pants

When a Marion County deputy stopped to check on the man, he fired a flare at the deputy’s cruiser and began to act erratically before being taken into custody

MARION COUNTY, Fla. — A man was arrested after firing a flare gun toward a Marion County sheriff’s deputy and refusing to comply with commands, ClickOrlando.com reported.

The July 8 incident occurred when the deputy had stopped to check on a man when the man fired a flare gun in the direction of the deputy’s patrol vehicle, body-worn camera video shows.

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“He just shot a flare gun at me,” the deputy reported on the radio.

Officials said Caldwell walked away and continued to ignore commands to stop. He then removed his pants, threw money at the deputy and displayed other erratic behavior before being subdued with a TASER.

Caldwell was arrested and faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. No injuries were reported.

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Joanna Putman is an Associate Editor and newswriter at Police1, where she has been covering law enforcement topics since August 2023. Based in Orlando, Florida, she holds a journalism degree from the University of Florida and spent two years working in nonprofit local newsrooms, gaining experience in community-focused reporting. Married to a law enforcement officer, she works hard to highlight the challenges and triumphs of those who serve and protect. Have a news tip? Email her at news@lexipol.com