Staff report

HAMILTON COUNTY, Fla. – According to a Facebook post from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team member shot and killed an armed suspect today while assisting other law enforcement agencies.

On Thursday, May 9, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASO) to serve a domestic violence injunction and an Ex Parte Risk Protection Order. The suspect, Joseph A. Ogle (4/10/1965), had declared that he was a sovereign citizen, and he was also a veteran with training and experience working with minor explosives and firearms. It was also confirmed that Ogle had numerous rifles and handguns and had fortified his residence.

As the investigation progressed, probable cause for criminal charges was established, and an arrest warrant was obtained for Written or Electronic Threats to Kill, do Bodily Injury or Conduct a Mass Shooting or Act of Terrorism with no bond.

This morning, deputies from ASO and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office surrounded the suspect’s home. Contact was established, and he refused to come outside. After lengthy negotiations, the suspect started firing at law enforcement personnel and their assets. He told law enforcement he would continue shooting and would commit suicide if necessary. During the subsequent standoff, the suspect presented himself armed with a handgun. At approximately 10:45 a.m., the suspect was shot by a member of ASO’s SWAT team and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Following ASO’s policies on officer-involved shootings, the investigation into the events and timelines leading to it will be conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The ASO Office of Professional Standards will investigate whether ASO policies were followed. The deputy(s) involved were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the parallel investigations.

Hamilton County Sheriff J. Harrell Reid stated, “I would like to thank Sheriff Emery Gainey of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff T.K. Waters of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for their support and resources during this incident.”

ASO and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office will not be releasing any more information about the shooting and this incident until the completion of the parallel investigations with FDLE and the 3rd Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office.