A 77-year-old homeless man was arrested for Saturday afternoon’s incident in Milton where he allegedly fired nine rounds at Santa Rosa County SWAT, according to the sheriff’s office.
Clifford Whennen of Pensacola is charged with:
- fleeing and eluding
- resisting arrest
- aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer (five counts)
- firing weapon
- criminal mischief
- probation violation (two counts)
The incident happened around 1:40 p.m. on Glover Lane.
According to the arrest report, a Milton Police officer located Whennen’s vehicle in a business parking spot on the 4900 block of Glover Lane following a reckless driving complaint.
The report states the officer observed Whennen “slumped back” in the drivers seat with a semi-automatic pistol sticking out the front of his pants.
According to the report, Whennen became argumentative and pointed the pistol at his own head. He then disregarded commands from Milton Police and Santa Rosa County deputies, and instead drove off onto Glover Lane.
A short distance later, Whennen’s vehicle stalled in the middle of the road. The report states he briefly exited his vehicle and pointed his firearm at himself. He also reportedly rammed Santa Rosa County deputy patrol vehicles, causing over $1,000 in damage.
According to the report, SWAT then arrived on scene with an armored vehicle.
“After Clifford refused to obey their commands for him to exit his vehicle, a CS canister was launched into the cabin of his vehicle,” deputies noted in the arrest report. “Clifford, who was lying in the back seat of his vehicle, responded by shooting his pistol multiple times.”
The report states 9mm bullets struck the SWAT vehicle seven times on the front passenger side windshield and the surrounding frame. This caused approximately $10,000 in damages.
“After the shooting, members of the SWAT team succeeded in extracting Clifford from his vehicle, but he continued to physically resist their attempts to place him in handcuffs,” deputies noted in the report.
The sheriff’s office says in a release that Whennen opened his door after “several deployments of less lethal munition.”
No deputies or citizens were injured.
Whennen was transported to the hospital for treatment before being booked into Santa Rosa County Jail late Saturday night. He’s being held on $162,500 bond.
Shooting incidents can result in severe physical and emotional trauma, leaving victims and their families in distress. At Ovadia Law Group, our experienced attorneys are dedicated to providing expert legal support to those affected by shootings. We thoroughly investigate each case, gather crucial evidence, and build a strong claim to hold the responsible parties accountable. Our goal is to secure the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering. With a deep understanding of the complexities involved in shooting cases, Ovadia Law Group fights tirelessly on your behalf, ensuring your rights are protected. Trust our compassionate and skilled team to guide you through this challenging time. Call us today at 1-800-674-9396 for a free consultation and take the first step towards justice and recovery.
Source: weartv
