MCSO: Man in custody after assaulting officers, ramming vehicles

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — A SWAT Team standoff with a man who authorities say assaulted multiple law enforcement officers in Martin County on Friday morning has ended.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office said the man, identified as 86-year-old Ermine Smith, called the City of Stuart Friday morning threatening to shoot law enforcement officers.

Sheriff William Snyder and Stuart Police said Smith was angry because police trespassed him at the Talkhouse Restaurant in Stuart on Thursday, meaning he will be arrested if he enters the place again.

Friday morning, he barricaded himself inside his home in the Vista Del Lago community.

“He was so unhappy that he had barricaded himself inside of his apartment and had a shotgun and said to City of Stuart Police that if law enforcement came, he’d fire. He’d fire that shotgun out the window,” Snyder said.

When deputies arrived on the scene, Snyder said Smith ran from his apartment into his white Jeep Grand Cherokee.

“He gets in his vehicle and tried to Jesse James himself out of this parking lot,” Snyder said.

Lt. Yesenia Carde-Watson said she had to dodge his SUV twice, saying it appeared he was trying to hit her.

“I was in fear for my life, definitely. But I was worried about our people and civilians around him,” Carde-Watson said. “I came around here just to get out of his path but he backed up and came onto that path… No regard for any property or life.”

Deputies rammed into his SUV to protect Carde-Watson and try to stop his attempt to flee. Afterward, he kept driving.

Snyder said Smith damaged four vehicles, including three law enforcement vehicles and damaged fencing and hedges.

Deputies were able to run him off the road and into a wooded area before he could drive into heavier traffic.

"If we had not intervened right here at this entrance exit to this complex, he would have been on US 1 and we would have really had our hands full,” Snyder said.

Deputies found a handgun under the front seat of Smith’s SUV. Deputies also found multiple guns in his home.

Smith was taken to a local hospital but will be arrested when he is released, facing charges of at least aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, according to Snyder.

“Some of the neighbors have already said they hope he doesn’t come back,” Snyder said.