CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — Two Charlotte County deputies are currently on administrative leave following a deputy-involved shooting that tragically resulted in the death of Elroy Clarke outside his residence on Wednesday.
Watch FOX 4’s Alex Orenczuk report on an officer involved shooting in Charlotte County:
Man was tased, pepper sprayed, hit by bean bag gun before being shot by deputies
In a complex turn of events, Clarke had dialed 911 seeking assistance to remove Troy Johnson, a man he described as a trespasser on his property. Yet, when deputies arrived at Clarke’s home on Sandy Pine Drive, they discovered he had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear on a trespassing charge. Sheriff Bill Prummell noted that Clarke’s demeanor shifted sharply once the officers attempted to take him into custody.
“When they told him he was under arrest and asked him to place his hands behind his back he refused to do so,” Sheriff Prummell stated somberly. “He was very non-compliant.”
Before resorting to lethal measures, officers endeavored to subdue Clarke using a range of less-lethal strategies. Despite their best efforts—including multiple taser deployments and pepper spray—the attempts were futile.
“They tried to use the taser several times; it had no effect. They used pepper spray; it had no effect,” Sheriff Prummell recounted. “They even engaged in physical confrontation, but Clarke proved stronger than three deputies combined.”
In a disconcerting escalation, the officers utilized a bean bag shotgun, but even that failed to incapacitate him. Sheriff Prummell described the moment as harrowing. After enduring the bean bag rounds, Clarke aggressively charged at one of the deputies, managing to gain a physical advantage. Faced with an imminent threat, the deputy drew his weapon and fired, tragically ending Clarke’s life.
The dynamics surrounding Clarke and Johnson’s interactions puzzled many. Johnson had reportedly resided at Clarke’s home for the preceding three months. Both men initially provided deputies with false names during the encounter, with Clarke humorously referring to himself as “the king” while Johnson called himself “the emperor.” This peculiar exchange only deepened the confusion surrounding the incident.
Discussion surrounding the officers’ use of force highlighted the complexities police face in such tense situations. Dr. David Thomas, a forensic studies professor at FGCU, emphasized that officers are trained to use deadly force only when they or others are in imminent danger. “They felt their lives were in danger, even against bare hands,” he explained, noting the extraordinary nature of the confrontation.
One cannot help but contemplate the tragic intersection of two lives—one searching for safety, the other met with a sudden, violent end. Friends and acquaintances expressed disbelief at Clarke’s death. “He was a family man,” a friend stated. “He didn’t exhibit that kind of demeanor.”
Asafa Omasa Dey, another friend, echoed similar sentiments, asserting that it should have been possible to apprehend Clarke without resorting to lethal measures. “They should have been able to apprehend him without physically harming that man,” he lamented.
Dalton Fiata, a contractor working on renovations at Clarke’s home, shared his memories of the man, describing him as calm and collected. “The guy I knew wasn’t aggressive; he was very calm spoken,” Fiata remarked. “I think someone is making it out to seem like something it wasn’t.”
In the wake of this tragic incident, Charlotte County is left with more questions than answers, and the reverberations of that fateful Wednesday continue to unfold. The complexities of human interactions, law enforcement protocols, and community safety converge in this cautionary tale that serves as a somber reminder of the cost of conflict.
