FL Sheriff Says Homeowners Are 'More Than Welcome' To Shoot Burglars

SANTA ROSA, FL — One Florida sheriff is reassuring homeowners that it's perfectly OK to shoot thieves who enter their homes uninvited.

Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson made the statement after announcing the arrest of Brandon J. Harris, 32, of Milton.

During a news conference Thursday, Johnson described Harris as a "career criminal" who's been arrested at least 17 times since age 13.

"We sent him to prison for six-and-a-half years for a home invasion, and he just can't seem to get the picture that crime does not pay," Johnson said.

"Some people just don't learn. For us, he is job security. We deal with him all the time. Hopefully, this time he will go and he won't get out," he continued.

Harris is back in jail for a series of burglaries that took place Wednesday evening in the Santa Villa subdivision in Pace.

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office said it was first notified of a suspicious person, later identified as Harris, in the area around 4:30 p.m. Johnson's department responded with 20 officers and K-9's and set up a perimeter.

As deputies searched for him, Harris was jumping fences and breaking into houses, Johnson said.

"Around 5:12 p.m., we get a call for shots fired. Harris broke into someone's house and the homeowner shot at him," Johnson said. "He continues to run. We finally corner him in a house he broke into on Tom Sawyer, and we corner him in a bedroom."

However, Harris, whom Johnson described as a "genius," attempted to escape by jumping through the bedroom window. Deputies were waiting for him on the other side and took him into custody.

Harris was uninjured — even despite one homeowner's attempt to shoot him.

"We don't know which homeowner shot at him. I guess they think they did something wrong, which they did not. If someone is breaking into your house, you're more than welcome to shoot them in Santa Rosa County. We prefer that you do actually," Johnson said.

"Whoever that was, you're not in trouble. Come see us. We have a gun safety class we put on every other Saturday, and if you take that, hopefully, you'll shoot a lot better and save the taxpayers money," he continued.

At the time of Harris' latest arrest, Johnson said, he had felony warrants for violation of probation warrant with no bond and aggravated assault with a weapon.

His latest charges include attempted burglary with assault, resisting arrest, burglary of an occupied dwelling, criminal mischief, attempted larceny and burglary of an unoccupied dwelling.

"He doesn't care about anybody but himself. Hopefully he goes to prison for the rest of his life on this one," Johnson said.

A judge set bail on the charges for $157,500.