Man Charged with Firing Flare Gun at Florida Deputy’s Vehicle
Deputy Mingus encountered a man walking down a local highway at 4:20 a.m. and stopped to speak with him. The man responded by firing a flare gun.
Suspect firing flare gun while in contact with Marion County Sheriff's deputy.
Screen Shot from Marion County SO Video
The Marion County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office reports that a man shot at a deputy with a flare gun in the predawn of July 8 (2025).
Deputy Mingus encountered a man walking down a local highway at 4:20 a.m. and stopped to speak with him. The man responded by firing a flare gun, the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook statement.
Video released by the sheriff’s office shows the suspect refusing to comply with the deputy’s commands, throwing money at the deputy, and taking off his pants.
The deputy warned the suspect that he was about to be Tasered. The deputy Tasered the man, knocking the man down. The suspect stood up and pulled out the probes, and the deputy used the Taser again but it failed to bring him under control, the video shows.
Deputy Mingus finally convinced the suspect to surrender and he was taken into custody, the sheriff’s office said.
The suspect was identified by authorities as Joseph Daniel Caldwell, a convicted felon. He has been charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and firing a missile into a vehicle.
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