OCALA, Fla. — An officer-involved shooting is under investigation in Ocala.
At about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Ocala police officers reported to a battery call at the Promenade Apartments at 1421 SW 27th Ave.
While officers were investigating the altercation, witnesses told them that one of the groups involved had left the complex, stating that they were going to return with firearms and shoot the reporting parties.
READ: ‘Just fell in love with her’: Firefighter adopts cat he rescued from Pet Alliance fire
Officers said they began surveying the complex in an attempt to apprehend the subjects if they returned to the area.
Shortly after, officers said they saw a vehicle occupied by four subjects enter the complex and proceed to the south side of the property.
Witnesses then began running from that area, notifying officers that the vehicle was in fact occupied by the subjects involved in the original altercation and that they were now armed, Ocala police said.
As officers approached to further investigate, they said two of the subjects fled on foot.
The first subject was quickly apprehended within the complex and he was arrested without further incident.
Officials said the second subject, Dallas Dothard, 23, was pursued throughout the complex and refused to comply with repeated instructions to stop and show his hands.
READ: ‘What in the world?’: A warning about an online property listing scam
During the chase, police said Dothard produced a handgun at which time the patrol sergeant who was in pursuit fired one round from his department-issued handgun.
Police said the round missed Dothard.
Dothard then discarded his weapon and continued to flee on foot, police said. The sergeant continued to give chase and Dothard was apprehended a short distance away from where the shot was fired.
He was then taken into custody without further incident.
No one was injured.
READ: Woman found bound, naked in Florida storm drain
“It’s important to note that our officers performed incredibly well during this entire incident and I couldn’t be more proud of them,” Ocala Chief of Police Mike Balken said. “They responded quickly to a minor call for service, they quickly realized the potential for violence, and they responded in fine fashion to ensure the safety of numerous bystanders within the complex, many of whom were young children. The bottom line here is that our officers prevented what certainly could have escalated into an active shooter situation within the complex which would have jeopardized the safety of many innocent people.
“Although an investigation is currently underway, my initial review of the situation leads me to believe that the sergeant who discharged his weapon did so well within guidelines, and while demonstrating an incredible amount of restraint. We are extremely lucky that our sergeant was uninjured and quite frankly, Dothard is very lucky that he’s still alive. This incident is yet another example of the difficult and sometimes very dangerous job that our folks do on a daily basis. And it should serve as an example of the great work they are doing out there to ensure the safety of our community.”
The sergeant involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2021 Cox Media Group
