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Florida police officers were able to stop an attempted murder just in the nic of time, according to Fox News.
A woman called 911 reporting that her estranged boyfriend traveled from Connecticut and was chasing her with a loaded gun, reported the authorities.
Bodycam footage shows the suspect, 39-year-old Aaron Thayer, as he is tased and apprehended.
The man’s girlfriend, who was not identified, called the police the previous day reporting that she had received many threatening texts.
One message read, “I hope you die” and “Imma kill you,” another said.
Police received a call from the woman that claimed Thayer was at her home, “armed with a tire iron.”
The woman said that the man was trying to break in and threatening to kill her, according to authorities.
Flagler County deputies were nearby and immediately responded to the scene, where they encountered the victim fleeing as Thayer was chasing her.
“Deputies protected the victim by having her hide behind their patrol car and confronted Thayer and attempted to take him into custody,” the sheriff’s office said.
“However, Thayer was not compliant and was tased.”
Thayer was found with a loaded handgun and a folding knife in his jeans, police reported.
Thayer is being held without bail at the Sheriff Perry Hall Detention Facility.
“The Easter bunny came early for the victim called Deputy’s Jen Prevatt and Ed Faircloth,” Sheriff Rick Staly said.
“This guy told the victim he was going to kill her and less than 24 hours later he had driven all night and was at her door to kill her.”
Thayer has been charged with written threats to kill, attempted premeditated murder with a firearm, possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon, petit theft, and resisting arrest without violence.
“I am so thankful that my deputies were able to intercept this guy and used their training, tactics and de-escalation techniques before he was able to hurt anyone,” Staly added. “They handled a very volatile and dangerous situation by running toward danger to protect the victim. This situation that could have had an entirely different outcome with either the victim, suspect or deputies injured or killed if not for the heroic efforts of our deputies.”
From Fox News:
Police said the victim reported that Thayer had installed security cameras on the property to “keep tabs” on her while he was away in Connecticut, reportedly for work, and that she pointed out “blind spots” to authorities because Thayer might be watching.
The day before, deputies had the victim answer one of Thayer’s calls while they were talking to her to determine where he was calling from. They “could hear Thayer ask the victim who was at the house with her and then told her he was on his way to kill her,” police said.
The sheriff’s department was able to get a warrant for Thayer’s arrest with nationwide extradition.
It was unclear if he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
