Florida Politician Shoots Man Attempting to Break in His Home Trying to Evade Police

A Palmetto City, Florida commissioner shot a man in self-defense after the man broke into his home after crashing into his neighbor’s house because he was fleeing the scene of a traffic stop, according to police.

The suspect, Avelino Misreal Vasquez-Perez also happens to be a near by neighbor.

At about 10 p.m. on Thursday, Palmetto police officers say they spotted Vasquez-Perez driving recklessly, thought he was impaired, and attempted to pull him over, according to the Chief of Police Scott Tyler.

Instead Vasquez-Perez sped off from police to crash into a home a few blocks later in the 600 block of Fourth Street West.

Vasquez-Perez and his passenger ran from the scene of the accident, but police were able to quickly catch the passenger. As officers set up a perimeter around the neighborhood to look for him, Vasquez-Perez climbed a fence into Palmetto commissioner Brian Williams’ yard and broke into the garage of his home where he attempted to hide from police 

Williams’ daughter, who lives next door, called her dad after spotting Vasquez-Perez. Williams then armed himself as he heard Vasquez-Perez trying to enter the kitchen from the garage. Williams confronted Vasquez-Perez at gun point. He then tried to push past Williams and punch him. Williams pushed Vasquez-Perez and shot him twice, according to Tyler.

“He was lawfully defending home and family,” Tyler said

Vasquez-Perez surrendered to police and was rushed to Blake Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. As of Friday, he was in stable condition and expected to recover from his injuries.

Vasquez-Perez is facing charges of resisting arrest without violence, burglary and battery in addition to traffic citations.