WALDO, Fla. — A 27-year-old man was arrested after deputies say he ordered a child to retrieve a loaded firearm before threatening a group of people, including children, during a disturbance near a lake in Waldo.
According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded during the evening of Friday, June 26, to the 17000 block of Northeast 134th Place after receiving reports of an armed disturbance involving a man threatening to shoot people.
When deputies arrived, they found several men involved in a verbal altercation and observed Teddy Stanze shoving another person. Stanze was detained without further incident.
Investigators said witnesses told deputies the group had been gathered near the lake when Stanze became agitated. After a victim told him to leave, Stanze allegedly refused and slapped the victim.
According to the investigation, another person approached Stanze while armed with a knife and warned him to leave or the knife would be used against him.
Deputies said Stanze then instructed a juvenile child in his care to retrieve his firearm from his vehicle. The child allegedly returned with the loaded handgun and gave it to Stanze.
Authorities said Stanze removed the firearm from its holster, pointed it at multiple victims, including children, and threatened to “blow their heads off” before placing the gun on a nearby grill.
When Stanze saw one of the victims calling law enforcement, he allegedly charged toward the individual. Another person intervened, and a physical fight broke out before deputies arrived.
Witnesses told investigators the firearm had been returned to its holster and placed on the dashboard of Stanze’s vehicle before law enforcement reached the scene.
Stanze was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a firearm without intent to kill, battery, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and assault.
The case remains under investigation.