Man Armed with Wine Bottle Prompted SWAT Call Out

A SWAT call out at a Bradenton church ended Wednesday afternoon with a 31-year-old man being given a trespass warning and Manatee deputies having him Baker Acted for a psychological evaluation.

The incident unfolded at the Bridge Church, 4000 75th St. W., around 2 p.m. when Richard Edward Johnson III entered the church saying he wanted to speak with someone. He first spoke with the church’s secretary and then the pastor.

“Eventually, he stated that he had a lot of anger and wanted to hurt someone,” an email from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office to media stated. “The witnesses then noticed something in the waistband of Johnson’s pants that they thought could be a weapon.”

Witnesses were able to leave the church and notified deputies, prompting the SWAT call out.

The weapon, however, turned out to be a wine bottle, the email said.

SWAT members later found Johnson asleep inside the church, deputies noted.

There were no injuries during the incident.

Johnson was given a trespass warning and was ultimately Baker Acted by deputies. The Baker Act enables involuntary emergency psychological evaluations, under Florida state law.

Image via Shutterstock

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