Santa Rosa County, Florida Sheriff Bob Johnson announced the agency’s arrest of Brandon Harris, a man he described as being among “frequent flyers” who most recently broke into several homes last Wednesday
The incident began when multiple residents called regarding Harris. As a result, about 20 deputies established a perimeter in a neighborhood and authorities were searching for the burglar.
A short time later, the sheriff’s office received a call of shots fired after Harris reportedly broke into a home, thus scaring him away.
The department later found the thief and cornered him in a bedroom of another home. As they entered the room to go after him, he dove out a window “head first, right through the glass,” and was subsequently taken into custody by deputies waiting for him in the backyard.
Sheriff Johnson said the victim-homeowner who shot at Harris before the burglar fled remains unknown as the person has not come forward.
The Sheriff said “I guess they think they did something wrong, which they did not. If somebody is breaking into your house, you’re more than welcome to shoot at them in Santa Rosa County. We prefer that you do actually.”
The sheriff added that those who take a gun safety course will shoot a gun "a lot better" and “If you take that you’ll shoot a lot better and hopefully you’ll save taxpayers money.”
Harris was charged with attempted burglary with assault, burglary to an occupied dwelling, and resisting arrest, criminal mischief, attempted larceny, burglary to an unoccupied dwelling.
Here's Sheriff Johnson's full comments.