CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — A Clay County woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison on March 12 after pleading guilty to shooting at deputies during a standoff at a Middleburg cemetery last January, court records show.

Tammy Saucier, 52, was sentenced on five counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Judge James Kallaher gave her credit for 413 days of time served.

On Jan. 23, 2024, Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook said around 10:40 a.m., deputies were notified of Saucier, who was believed to be suffering from a “mental health crisis.” Deputies later found Saucier’s vehicle information via the Clay County license plate reader system, and discovered that she was traveling from the Oakleaf area towards Middleburg.

Cook said a sergeant located Saucier’s vehicle and reported that she drove recklessly, veering into oncoming traffic and ran a red light.

After leading deputies on a pursuit, the sheriff’s office said Saucier pulled over inside of Holly Hill Cemetery, located at 3601 Old Jennings Road in Middleburg. Her arrest report states that “it was later learned that the defendant’s [Saucier’s] father was buried nearby.”

Cook said the sergeant attempted to de-escalate the situation by talking with Saucier.

At least two other deputies in the area then responded to assist the sergeant, according to the sheriff. Cook said Saucier is a family friend of one of the deputies who responded.

At some point, Saucier told deputies she had a gun, Cook told First Coast News. The sheriff said she also drank alcohol she had in her vehicle.

Saucier fired one shot inside of her vehicle and another shot in the direction of deputies standing behind her, according to the report.

At least three deputies returned gunfire, Cook said, striking Saucier’s vehicle with one bullet hitting her pinky finger, the report stated. The report does not state how many shots were fired by deputies.

Saucier’s injuries were non-life-threatening, according to the sheriff’s office, although she had to undergo surgery to have her spleen removed. Cook said no deputies were injured.

The deputies then called for help from SWAT while continuing efforts to de-escalate the situation. The deputy who knew Saucier asked her what could get her to surrender, Cook told First Coast News. Saucier responded saying she wanted a pack of cigarettes, Cook said.

“Using a shield, a ballistic shield, they approached her vehicle and dropped off a pack of cigarettes,” Cook said in a press conference following the shooting.

Cook said as Saucier got out of her vehicle to get the cigarettes, deputies used a bean bag round to immobilize her. Saucier was then tackled and taken into custody. Clay County Fire Rescue was already at the scene at this time and took her to HCA Orange Park Hospital. 

Saucier had been recently suspended from her job as Doctors Inlet Elementary’s bookkeeper before the deputy-involved shooting took place, according to the report. However, the report does not detail why or when Saucier was suspended.