Florida fugitive accused of firing at Hardee County deputies captured
ZOLFO SPRINGS, Fla. - A man accused of shooting at Hardee County deputies and taking off on Tuesday has been captured.
According to the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to a home on Oak Lane, south of Zolfo Springs on Tuesday night around 9:40 p.m. to investigate a report of a delayed domestic battery incident.
Deputies say Morgan Miguel Garcia, 29, was involved in an incident earlier in the day and had violated a no-contact order.
When a deputy arrived, they say they found Garcia in the backyard armed with an AR-15, which was owned by the victim’s father.
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The deputy ordered Garcia to drop his weapon, but HCSO says he did not comply. Instead, investigators say Garcia took cover and began firing at the deputy. The deputy returned fire with his agency-issued rifle.
Deputies say Garcia fired at them while they were investigating an earlier domestic violence complaint. Image is courtesy of the Hardee County Sheriff's Office.
According to HCSO, the deputy urged the other family members to take cover. That's when deputies say the victim’s father got his 9mm handgun and returned fire toward Garcia.
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Investigators say Garcia was then seen firing into the door of the home, trying to get inside the residence, where the family members were taking cover.
Pictured: SWAT team. Image is courtesy of the Hardee County Sheriff's Office.
When he wasn’t able to breach the door to the home, investigators say he broke through a window with the butt-end of the AR15. Garcia then ran away and a deputy lost sight of him.
Deputies and law enforcement officers from several other counties searched through the night to find Garcia, but couldn’t locate him and suspended the search around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Law enforcement officers asked the public for help to find Garcia and received a tip regarding his whereabouts on Wednesday afternoon.
Image is courtesy of the Hardee County Sheriff's Office.
He was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer, shooting into a building, aggravated assault with a firearm, robbery with a firearm, attempted burglary while armed with a firearm, burglary with assault or battery, aggravated stalking, violating condition of pre-trial release, discharging a firearm in a residential area, and criminal mischief.
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