Christmas parade scare: Suspicious man detained, found armed with gun and dagger
By Rachael Perry
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STUART, Florida (WPBF) — No charges were filed against a man detained during the Stuart Christmas parade after officers discovered he was carrying a gun and a dagger.
WPBF 25 News caught up with Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, who explained why the man was detained and why no charges were filed.
According to Budensiek, officials with the MCSO, alongside Congressman Brian Mast and his staff, were navigating East Ocean Boulevard at the beginning of the parade when the incident happened.
“One of his [Congressman Mast] staff members noted that an individual had appeared to be following all of us for a period of time, or at least walking the same route, and they looked suspicious,” Budensiek said.
He described the man as wearing a hat pulled down and a heavy jacket despite the warm climate. Officials with the MCSO dropped back to get closer to the man and investigate their concerns.
“As soon as he saw them adjust positions to him, he stopped walking and tried to blend into the crowd and kind of ease out of there, at which point they engaged in a conversation,” Budensiek said.
The sheriff said the man appeared to be “off” and under the influence of a controlled substance.
As officials continued talking to him, Budensiek said they realized he was dressed in multiple layers, including a long-sleeved shirt, a jacket, and some sort of apparatus. Budensiek said that ended up being a rifle-rated bulletproof vest.
“Let me put that in context. Our deputies wear soft body armor; they’re not rifle-rated body armor. This is legit rifle-rated body armor; it’s a higher level than normal body armor. With that, he had a dagger tucked down in his pants, and he had a handgun on his hip,” Budensiek said.
Budensiek said the man told officials he was just walking the route to find his daughter, but they weren’t satisfied with his answers and took him to the MCSO for questioning.
The sheriff said the man agreed to answer their questions, but his story changed.
“His story was that he had been an informant for us, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, which he had been, and had been getting death threats. Why you need that type of protection and why you’d even come out if you’re that afraid is beyond us. I don’t know,” he said.
At some point in previous years, Budensiek said the man had provided information to their narcotics unit, and claimed he was afraid of retaliation for that.
Budensiek said they don’t know if the man had any ill intentions, but a search of his phone did not reveal anything suspicious. He was questioned by both local and federal law enforcement, and no charges were filed.
“This is a concerning case for us because it’s kind of a trick bag. We were not able to arrest him last night because, legally, technically, he’s allowed to carry a firearm on that route. What he’s not allowed to do, though, is be suspicious and follow along and just be high while he’s possessing a firearm,” Budensiek said.
He said a few things could have changed that, including if the man was a convicted felon, if he had a risk protection order or a domestic violence injunction in place, along if he had brandished the weapon in any unlawful fashion.
While officials believe the man was under the influence of narcotics, they were not able to test him as he was not under arrest. However, Budensiek said the man’s family informed them he has struggled with drug use.
“Our detectives are working on what we call a risk protection order to try to prohibit him from having a gun until he can get whatever’s going on mentally or with controlled substances squared away. So, at this time, we have the vest, we have the gun. He was released last night,” Budensiek said.
The sheriff said the man was carrying a loaded Glock 9mm handgun with a bullet in the chamber. However, he said the case has nothing to do with open carry laws but instead sheds light on responsible gun ownership.
“I am all about the Second Amendment. If people want to carry, I’m good with that. But responsible gun ownership is what we’re about. Use your common sense; if you’re going to come out to an event like this, be appropriate with it. If people want to carry, I’m good with it, but use your brain’s common sense,” he said.
Budensiek said there’s a fine line between violating somebody’s Second Amendment rights and protecting the public. He said, in this case, they had enough to detain him, and he feels they did the right thing.
“It’s a different climate — 25 years ago, you never heard of an active shooter just to be an active shooter. I think Columbine really kind of kicked off that climate. You never know who’s going to be here and why they’re here and what they’re going through mentally. Mental illness is a big thing. Drug addiction is a big thing, unfortunately. So, everybody’s got to pay attention individually. Again, we’re doing our best to try to protect,” Budensiek said.
At the end of the day, Budensiek said, even if the man had no bad intentions, he’s glad they had the resources in place. He said it’s their job to make these events safe for children and families to enjoy.
“Our SWAT guys are out here. We’re flying all the rooftops of any higher elevated perch. We have undercovers in the crowd. We have blockades to keep people from driving down the routes. We’re living in a day and age where we have to be extremely careful, and last night, I’m appreciative to Congressman Mast’s staff and my staff for seeing something that wasn’t right and taking action,” he said.
Congressman Brian Mast took to social media, where he wrote:
“Martin Co. Sheriffs Deputies were on it last night. Unfortunately, we live in a world where they have to be, but thank God they are. From Sheriff Budensiek to all his deputies, air assets, K-9’s and handlers, SWAT and tactical units, plain clothes, EOD, reserve deputies, everyone that handles the logistics of events like last night with 10s of thousands of people. They will risk everything and leave nothing to chance, on behalf of each of us.
THANK YOU MCSO.THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO PUTS ON THE BADGE OR SHIELD, GUN AND ARMOR, to protect us.” – Brian Mast
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