Sheriff Judd Details 'Bizarre' Incident: Man Killed by Deputies After Gator Attack and Charging Officers

Bizarre Behavior and Initial Response

• 💡 At 5:56 a.m., a call reported a "bizarre" man at a racetrack, shaking and asking to call his son.
• 🔍 Deputies responded immediately but searched for over 40 minutes before locating him.

Lake Incident and Escalation

• ⚠️ At 7:43 a.m., another call reported a man in a lake with alligators, possibly drunk or high.
• 🐊 Witnesses attempted to help, but the man growled and refused a life vest.
• ⚡ Deputies arrived as the man was leaving the lake, attempting to break into a vehicle with garden shears.

Confrontation and Fatal Shooting

• 💥 The man charged deputies holding garden shears, ignoring de-escalation attempts and two tasings.
• 🚗 He then climbed into a patrol vehicle, attempting to access a rifle or shotgun.
• 🎯 Deputies shot multiple times, resulting in the man's death, to stop the threat.

Suspect's History and Methamphetamine Influence

• 📜 The deceased, Timothy Schulz, had a long criminal history primarily involving methamphetamine arrests, recently released from jail.
• 🧠 Sheriff Judd emphasized that the man's actions were likely due to being "out of his mind on drugs", specifically methamphetamine.
• 🐊 The man was also apparently bitten by an alligator while swimming across the lake, yet continued his rampage.

Law Enforcement Response and Justification

• 🛡️ Deputies attempted to de-escalate and take the suspect into custody peacefully despite his aggressive actions.
• ⚖️ The incident is under investigation by a multi-agency task force, with results to be turned over to the state attorney.
• ✅ Sheriff Judd stated that deputies acted appropriately to stop a severe threat, ensuring their own safety.