A Florida police chief issued a warning to criminals in the state after saving a burglar who was shot by a homeowner.
“One has to expect that if you are brazen enough to enter someone’s residence and it is not theirs, with the intent to commit an illegal act, there may be repercussions,” said City of Haines Police Chief Gregory Goreck. , at a press conference on Friday.
“We live in Florida, and furthermore, we live in Polk County, and most of the people are armed,” he said.
Goreck was responding to an incident Friday in which a Florida man with a concealed weapons permit came home to find two intruders burglarizing his residence.
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Haines City Police Chief Gregory Goreck speaks at a news conference
(Haines City Police Department)
The owner fired his weapon, striking one of the suspects before both fled the scene.
Officers with the City of Haines Police Department were able to reach the injured suspect in a nearby park using a canine police officer.
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Tyriek Tramaine Washington has been charged with theft
(Polk County Jail via WTVT-TV)
“Immediately at that moment, the officers, even though it was a felon who had been illegally inside someone’s home, immediately changed focus and changed gears and went from search, locate and arrest to saving the life of this guy,” Goreck explained.
The injured suspect was identified as 27-year-old Tyriek Tramaine Washington and was hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds that are not believed to be life-threatening.
Washington has been charged with robbery and is being held in the Polk County Jail.
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Haines City Police Department Building
(Google Earth)
Authorities are still investigating the incident and trying to locate the second suspect.
Police say the owner fully complied with police and answered all questions before officers determined that he had legally defended his home.
