Brandon, Florida — Clarence Daniels, 62, drove to the Walmart located at 11110 Causeway Boulevard — with label in his pocket — to purchase coffee creamer for his wife.
But just as Daniels entered the sliding doors to the Walmart, he was tackled and placed in a choke hold — and not by police or Walmart security.
He was actually tackled by Michael Foster, 43, who had seen a gun under Daniels’ jacket. The problem is that Daniels had a carry permit for the weapon.
According to deputies, as Daniels was exiting his vehicle, his jacket had moved. That is when Foster saw the gun and followed Daniels from the parking lot.
According to reports, Foster shouted, “He’s got a gun.” Then tackled Daniels.
Daniels replied, “I have a permit.”
“Unfortunately he tackled a guy that was a law-abiding citizen,” Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Spokesman Larry McKinnon said. “We understand it might be alarming for people to see other people with guns, but Florida has a large population of concealed weapons permit holders.”
The Sheriff’s Office said Foster is lucky Daniels kept his cool and didn’t pull his weapon, which he would have legally been entitled to do.
“Vigilante citizens should refrain from taking matters into their own hands,” McKinnon said. “And if you do, you better make sure you have a good reason to tackle a law-abiding citizen legally carrying a gun.”
Foster was arrested and charged with Battery.
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