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Suspect That Was Holding A Hostage Shot And Killed After Standoff, ECSO Says
May 8, 2023
A man with 58 prior felony convictions has been identified as the suspect shot and killed by a deputy Sunday night in Escambia County after about five hours of negotiations.
Sheriff Chip Simmons said 53-year old Ronnie Kenneth Clark was wanted on a failure to appear warrant on a meth-related charge and a violation of probation warrant. He had warrants in both Florida and Alabama.
A bail bondsman from Bay Minette and deputies believed Clark had a gun, which was later determined to be two objects taped together to resemble a firearm (pictured below inset), Simmons said. He also texted two people saying that he had a gun and was going to “shoot it out” with deputies, according to the sheriff.
About 5 p.m., the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 4700-block of Helton Lane off Klondike Road for the warrant service, where Clark reportedly threatened both the deputies and the bondsman.
For hours, he held a woman hostage inside a tent on the property before attempting to leave. Simons said Clark was holding a knife to the woman’s throat, got into a a vehicle and attempted to leave. That’s when he was shot and killed by a SWAT officer.
Simmons said the woman is being treated at a local hospital for injuries. He said she was struck when the bullet either traveled through the suspect or fragmented. An update on her condition was not available.
“It’s obvious to us that we spent five hours trying to end this peacefully, and we cannot let them leave,” Simmons said during a Monday morning press conference. “In situations like this, we care about human life. We care more about a hostage than we do the hostage taker, and the deputy had an opportunity to end this…Our criminal escalated these events, and it cost him his life.”
“He threatened our deputies; he threatened the bondsman. He held a knife to the throat of a hostage, and he tried to get away. If you try to do these things, you are not long for this world, quite honestly. You play this type of stupid game, and you get what you get.”
The knife was recovered at the scene (pictured first below), the sheriff noted.
As is standard procedure, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the officer involved shooting, and the deputy has been placed on administrative leave.
Comments
21 Responses to “Suspect That Was Holding A Hostage Shot And Killed After Standoff, ECSO Says”
Holding a knife to her throat….he should have been shot within minutes not hours!
@ Brandon….you can go on any Clerk of Courts website and look up any/all types of Court Cases. Also there’s Inmate Lookup at Correctional Facilities and Jail view for Local Jails throughout the Counties in Florida and other States. I imagine this was the Avenue many have looked this fella up and the Sheriff spoke on this as well during his press conferences. Hope this helps you in checking for yourself.
How do you lookup someone’s arrest record to find out he had that many felonies?
Really should be a mandatory death sentence at the 10th felony. I’d say 3 but I figure if you reach 10 you have to be absolute scum.
I’m Sheriff Simmons has done a great job! The difference really shows when you have an experienced Sherrif in office with law enforcement expertise. I hope everyone remembers this during the next election! Praying for the Deputy involved and the bad guy’s family!!
@Steve, people have been violent towards law enforcement for as long as there’s been law enforcement. This isn’t a new concept.
Why was he not in prison? 58 felony convictions…he should have been locked up forever 55 felonies ago.
Thoughts are with the officer who had to do this.
The lawlessness has honestly gotten so out of hand, with people actually taunting and cussing out police officers, throwing punches, trying to shoot them, basically asking to die because they either don’t fear death, or LIFE has no meaning, so they produce meaning for themselves, and take what they want, and do as they please, with anything or anyone just because they don’t care. I sort of understand now, why my ancestors used guillotines. When people no longer fear death because they all think this is a video game with do overs, or prison’s aren’t a deterrent History does repeat itself, We all need to be more kind to one another. Try decaf
I knew this man a few years back. Very personable man at the time. Very sad for his family, grandchildren. Very sad that drugs take over & some people cannot overcome the devil. Prayers for his daughter, grandchildren. Very sad for them.
JUSTICE is finally done and not inside the court system that allowed him to roam OUR streets and neighborhoods.
Pleased the ECSO officers are well….Good Job.
I wonder just how many 58 felony folks are on the streets.
This fella, although sad, got what he ultimately was asking for. No, no one asks to be killed but with the lifestyle you choose(58 felonies and possibly being under the influence of drugs) and the fact you hold a knife to the neck of another person during a stand off with Police, what else was he thinking would happen. This is sad in so many ways. There’s a deputy dealing with the fact HE WAS FORCED to take a life to protect another…there’s the young lady who went through this crazy mess and wound up possibly hit by the bullet that was fired…AFTER HAVING A KNIFE TO HER NEXK AND THREATENED…I pray that the young lady recovers and of course for the HELL this officer is going through. Officer, if you are reading this, you stopped this mess before someone else was hurt or killed…WE ARE PROUD OF YOU…you are in my prayers. I pray for this young man who lost his life…he really lost it years ago but his “DASH” expired yesterday. I pray for his family that has already been through Hell With his troubles and now they have to bury this fella…I’m proud of OUR Sheriffs Department for all they do to protect us. Why was this fella not behind bars after all these charges? I’m not going to speculate but I think we all know where the breakdown occurred. Thank you Sheriff(Coach) and the Department for doing all you could do to end this peacefully…y’all are THE BEST
Career criminal doing what they do best being a criminal !!! Losing his life doing what he does best !!! Killed by law enforcement officers doing what he does best !!! Too many chances to act right and choose to die instead of doing the right thing!!
Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight.
58 felonies & was still being allowed to commit crime as a free man! Such a sorry excuse for a court system !! Innocent people are being preyed upon at the hands of these incompetent Judges. This is sickening
58 prior felony convictions? Why the heck was this guy not in jail for life.We won’t have to worry about him killing someone with his 59th felony. Great job officers.
if you hold a knife to someone’s neck, expect to be shot
Thank you ECSO for all you do. God bless you all everyday in every way.
Good Job ECSO.
I witnessed this whole thing live right next to it the had drones and stuff