FLORAL CITY, Fla. – A 35-year-old man was arrested Thursday afternoon after authorities say he threatened to kill a woman while armed with a sword and baseball bat, leading to a SWAT response at a Citrus County residence.
The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office responded shortly after 2 p.m. on Aug. 13 to a home on East Emerald Lane in Floral City following a report of an erratic and violent man threatening someone with a sword.
Deputies identified the suspect as Joshua William Batchelor.
The woman told deputies that Batchelor had threatened her safety while brandishing both a sword and baseball bat. She also reported that he had been smoking methamphetamine from a pipe inside the residence.
As deputies assessed the situation, they observed Batchelor pacing inside the home while holding an object.
Because of the reported threats and presence of weapons, authorities deployed additional patrol deputies, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and trained crisis negotiators.
Woman Says Suspect Threatened to Kill Her and Threw Sword
Crisis negotiators attempted to establish communication with Batchelor while SWAT members positioned themselves around the residence to protect the victim, nearby residents and responding deputies.
SWAT members eventually entered the home and took Batchelor into custody without further incident.
During the investigation, the victim told deputies that Batchelor had threatened to kill her while armed with the sword and then threw the sword at her.
Based on her statements and the investigation, deputies determined there was probable cause to charge Batchelor with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
Authorities did not report any injuries during the incident.
“This incident is a clear example of how our specialized teams, patrol deputies, and negotiators work together to bring dangerous situations to a safe resolution,” Citrus County Sheriff David Vincent said. “Their professionalism and teamwork ensured no one else was harmed during a volatile and unpredictable encounter.”