[grjr21]

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is trying to find out why Swofford didn't drop his gun.

Did they think he was French ?

[kerryusama04]

I carry and keep guns around to protect myself and my family, but with that kind of cash, I would hire somebody to do it for me.

[stm]

This ought to be good, let's see if our new "I was in fear of my life" law holds up here.

[elkfersupper]

Memo to self:

As soon as possible after winning the lottery, move to Galt's Gulch.

[cripplecreek]

Facing cops telling me to drop my gun, I'm gonna do it. We can sort it out later without any holes in anybody.

[johniegrad]

First, he didn't collect the money until his divorce was final. But, eventually, as part of the divorce settlement, he gave his wife $5 million and he has now reunited with her. Then, he was sued twice by his wife's sister, with whom he also has a child.

All we need now to make the story complete is the discovery that the wife's sister with whom the lottery winner had the child was the wife of one of the deputies.

[Number57]

COPS: "DROP THE GUN!!!"



But but but... I'm worth MILLIONS!

[isthisnickcool]

If I recall correctly this guy is an ex special forces member. So, he should know how to handle firearms.

[Oztrich Boy]

Swofford, 54, may have thought the deputies on his private property were intruders,

They were intruders.

[operation clinton cleanup]

First, he didn't collect the money until his divorce was final. But, eventually, as part of the divorce settlement, he gave his wife $5 million and he has now reunited with her. Then, he was sued twice by his wife's sister, with whom he also has a child.

All in the family...

[elkfersupper]

Then, he was sued twice by his wife's sister, with whom he also has a child.

Typical lottery winner.

[muawiyah]

Sounds like a robbery gone bad.

[org.whodat]

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is trying to find out why Swofford didn't drop his gun.

What a crock.

[Old Professer]

Sounds like there may be another payday in Mr. Swofford's future.

[nuconvert]

"First, he didn't collect the money until his divorce was final. But, eventually, as part of the divorce settlement, he gave his wife $5 million and he has now reunited with her. Then, he was sued twice by his wife's sister, with whom he also has a child."

And now he's been shot 4 times. Yikes, what a life (and I have a feeling there's more we don't know about)

[cmsgop]

This is his Limo......

[sgtbono2002]

My first question is were the cops wearing their Official Police Uniforms or their fatigues or Ninja suits?

Police have good uniforms that are easily recognised as being Police uniforms. but many of them prefer coveralls and combat boots., Much like burglar might wear.

[DocRock]

I own a jewelry store and wouldn't open the door to a uniformed officer at my house after midnight. He was doing a "well being" check on my neighbor and wanted to "ask me some questions". I was armed and refused to open my door until he pulled his cruiser around the front of my house and called for another officer. When I explained to the officer my paranoia and that I was armed, he had no problem complying. This guy had mega bucks and had a reason for any paranoia.

I can fully understand the property owners refusal to lower his weapon. "Police officer... drop your weapon" just doesn't cut if for me.

[gaspar]

Couldn't the author mention what time it was? Dusk? Dark? Were the deputies in uniform? Do they prowl around private property without trying to contact the owner? Procedurally, there seems to be something wrong here.

[usmcobra]

[Oztrich Boy]

wftv.com. ^ | 7:08 am EDT April 20, 2006 | wftv.com

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office released video taken by their helicopter just moments after deputies shot Swofford at his home off 436 near Forest City. They said he had an semi-automatic weapon and refused to drop it. Swofford's close friend told Channel 9 on Thursday that people are always lurking around his expensive cars on his property. A sheriff's search dog led two deputies onto Swofford's property from the back, about 200 feet behind the house. Then, the three found themselves gun to gun. The two deputies, dog-handler Billy Morris, a 10-year veteran, and rookie officer Ronnie Remus, said they identified themselves as sheriff's deputies and told the man they thought was their car burglary suspect to drop the gun. Instead, they said, he moved the 9-millimeter handgun toward them and they opened fire.

Later report

Central Florida Lottery Winner Shot By Deputy
POSTED: 11:40 am EDT April 20, 2006

A 54-year-old former lottery winner was shot by Seminole County, Fla., sheriff's deputies early Thursday as officers searched his property for a car theft suspect, WKMG-TV in Orlando reported.

Investigators said a deputy and a K-9 unit were in pursuit of a car theft suspect on Robert Swofford's property near Forest Lake Drive in Altamonte Springs early Thursday.

Police said Swofford allegedly pointed a shotgun at the deputies as they searched his property for the burglary suspect. Deputies said when it did not appear that Swofford wanted to back down, they fired a shot.

Uh-oh! Cops changing their story, Can you say deep doo-doo?

Ansd if you go onto a prpoerty and a guy confronts you with a shotgun - he's probably not the burglar you think you are chasing.