Pensacola News Journal

A Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office deputy has been cleared of wrongdoing after he shot and wounded a naked man who aimed a crossbow at him and other deputies as they attempted to arrest the man for barricading himself inside a house.

Sheriff's Office deputies received a 911 call Oct. 20 from a man who said his son, 26-year-old Glen Phillips, was under the influence of narcotics and had threatened to shoot him at his home, according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report released Wednesday. The father arranged to meet deputies at a convenience store, but never appeared, according to the report.

Later that morning, the father called 911 again and said his son had locked himself inside their home on Highway 4 in Jay and wouldn't let him inside. Deputies responded and the father again told them that Phillips had threatened to shoot him with a crossbow.

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After several hours of unsuccessfully trying to get Phillips to exit the home, four deputies entered the home and heard Phillips state he was "armed and dangerous." After they entered into the home, they observed Phillips naked and armed with a crossbow, which he aimed at the deputies, according to the report.

Deputy Kevin Dalgleish told FDLE investigators he was in fear for his and the other deputies' safety when he shot and wounded Phillips in the right armpit. Phillips dropped the crossbow and was administered treatment by deputies and then EMS.

The next day, Phillips told investigators that when the deputies entered the home the day before, he was naked on the floor, praying to "Earth and native God," he said. He said he also believed that people or aliens may be coming to take a meteorite he had previously found, because it was worth a lot of money.

He also claimed he dropped the crossbow before the deputy shot him.

Philips claimed he hadn't used narcotics the day of the incident, but hospital records indicate he tested positive for amphetamines, cannabinoids and benzodiazepines. He also told a television reporter that he had been using meth prior to the incident.

The FDLE found that Dalgleish was justified in using deadly force against Phillips and cleared the deputy of any wrongdoing.

Phillips, who survived the shooting, was arrested Wednesday and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.

Annie Blanks can be reached at ablanks@pnj.com or 850-435-8632.