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Suspect Shot By Escambia Deputy
January 12, 2011
A deputy-involved shooting in Escambia County early this morning is under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Deputy Courtney Clanton fired shots at a suspect’s vehicle as the suspect drove towards him in an aggressive manner, according to Chris Welborn, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office.
Around 12:25 a.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to an officer in trouble call on New Forest Court after 50-year-old Harold Anthony Baggett, of Pensacola, confronted Deputy Clanton.
According to Welborn, Deputy Clanton was standing outside near the roadway when he was approached by Baggett (pictured), who was driving a silver Honda. Baggett asked Deputy Clanton if he was a cop and Deputy Clanton identified himself as a deputy sheriff. Baggett then drove his vehicle towards Deputy Clanton in an aggressive manner.
Fearing for his life, Deputy Clanton fired shots at the vehicle. As a result, Baggett suffered gunshot wounds but was able to flee the area. He was later found at a residence in the 700 block of Deedra Avenue.
Baggett was treatedfor his injuries at Sacred Heart Hospital. After his release he was booked into the Escambia County Jail on a charge of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and was being held at the Escambia County Jail on a $15,000 bond.
Deputy Clanton, who has worked for the Sheriff’s Office since 2006, has been placed on routine administrative leave pending the results of the on-going investigation.
Pictured: Suspect Harold Anthony Baggett.
Comments
21 Responses to “Suspect Shot By Escambia Deputy”
Truthful …”…he was actually trying to provoke me instead of calming the situation…”
I second that. I have seen it personally many times. It seems to be more than tactless officers, or a misplaced sense of self worth …. don’t they know how to be nice. Reminds me of ‘Kyle’ on ‘South Park’ ….Respect my AUTHORITY!! It is true, you get what you give and with respect a little goes a long way.
Sounds like this situation was too far gone to apply, had to defend his own life!! Wouldn’t you have done the same?
A lot of cases are totally avoidable though, simply by officers being nicer. Keeping The Peace?!? They don’t make their own jobs any easier acting that way.
REGARDING:
“Everyone has to earn respect. Sorry Even LEO’s”
True, but it should be shown even if not always felt and it should certainly be taught even if for no other reason than to keep children out of trouble as much as possible. Further, worth of respect should be assumed until proven to not be merited.
Failing that, respect should be shown because they are armed and might be having a bad day. For that matter, anybody you meet might be armed, so a show of respect to whomever you meet is not out of order for those wishing long, happy, unperforated lives.
David for respecting positions
and teaching children same
just to set things straight I am not defending anyone….I had a brief brush with the ECSO needing their assistance and when they arrived I will not mention any names at this point but he was actually trying to provoke me instead of calming the situation…no respect anymore I will not mention the things he was saying
Everyone has to earn respect. Sorry Even LEO’s
Just because someone hands them a badge and gun with their job that
doesn’t necessarily make them good. Even I am old enough to know
that!
But hey, I will remember that your not allowed to ask questions of law
enforcement, they’re just too good for that and certainly above reproach.
Hostility toward Law Enforcement is rising. Be sure to teach your kids that the police have a hard job and are to be respected.
“Send that Deputy to the firing range for practice !”
A shooting incident is very traumatic for a LEO. Many never fire their weapons at all.
The guy not being dead is a bonus, not a liability. Less LEO suffering and a chance for perp rehab.
The perp is still alive.
Send that Deputy to the firing range for practice !
I pray every night for all our men and women that risk their lives to see that me and my family are safe. They all have a job that is thankless. The people in the military, law enforcement, fire departments ect. I can not even imagine what life would be like if not for these strong and dedicated people. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.
I’m glad the officer wasn’t hurt. Not sorry the dirtbag was. Maybe he will think twice before he does something like this again. I’m sure there is more to this than is written here.
I believe the cops should have bigger guns and use them more often. If they were allowed to do that we wouldn’t have so many dirtbag criminals running free. And the felon wouldn’t be so quick to go back to a life of crime after finishing a stent in prison. The cops HAVE to go by the laws and rules – the criminals don’t. The “do gooders” have made it so that the cops have little power anymore and therefore the criminals aren’t scared of them now.
to all the people that are trying to defend this guy, he is obviously not in his right mind. that late he is looking for his next fix. and if he was sick looking for help why did he ask if he was a cop and then start toward the deputy with his car. and as for the deputies being trigger happy, they have to be with how the crooks having more rights than the law. my hats off to the deputy for a job well done. He only wounded the suspect.
need more info–YOU MAY WELL BE CORRECT. THE DRIVER HAD ASK FOR HELP FROM THE EASTER BUNNY..THE GOOD FAIRY–AND NONE WOULD HELP HIM. SO HE TRIED TO GET THE S.O.’S ATTENTION BY TRYING TO RUN OVER HIM.
HOW ABOUT HE YELLED AT THE OFFICER AND ASK THAT WAY IF HE WAS AN OFFICER—THEN TRIED TO RUN OVER HIM. ALSO I’M WITH YOU WAYNE–THOSE WHO FUSS ABOUT THE S.O. SHOOTING ARE THE FIRST TO FUSS ABOUT THE S.O. LETTING THE CROOKS GET AWAY OR ABOUT NOT KEEPING THEM IN JAIL (WHICH IS UP TO A JUDGE)
What if he was suffering from a medical condition and merely trying to gain assistance by moving closer to the officer?
To weirdal ,Want to change the S.O. Image and stats . You take the job!
Mostly traffic violations on his record.Could be just a bad driver.Lord knows theres a lot of them out there.
CreamPuff…..he was breaking into cars in our neighborhood and is known to be high on crack.
No, there is NO questions here. The bottom line is the ECSO is pistol happy. They always seem to justify their trigger happy fingers…….
Glad the officer is ok,
Pretty impressive shooting, think about someone driving a car at you and you are firing while trying to get out of the way….
… someone has been spending some quality time at the range.
We are fortunate to have men like this watching our backs.
Yeah the wording of the incident doesn’t make much sense.
Me too.
nOT STICKING UP FOR THIS DUDE after all we don’t know why he was
out in the middle of the night.
But if the honda pulled up to the cop and asked if he was a cop, how did
he then drive towards the officer.
Just trying to get this pictured in my head and it seems to me if they were
talking to each other I’m just picturing them side by side.
Just Asking?