Convicted murderer arrested for allegedly holding people hostage, attacking deputies with hatchet
11/16/2021 11:44 am PST
WAUCHULA HILLS, Fla. (TCD) -- A 61-year-old convicted felon was arrested Sunday for allegedly holding three people hostage and then attacking sheriff's deputies with a hatchet.
The Hardee County Sheriff's Office wrote in a statement that on Nov. 14 at approximately 7:30 p.m., deputies received a call about a potential armed hostage situation. Hardee County Sheriff's Office deputies, Bowling Green Police Department Officers, and Wauchula Police Department officers all responded to the call at a home in Wauchula Hills.
According to the Sheriff's Office, suspect Mitchell Albritton informed the officers and deputies he had weapons as they approached the residence. Deputies reportedly were already in the threshold of the residence and "forced the door open to subdue Albritton."
Albritton, who allegedly had a hatchet in his hand, attacked two of the deputies before they were able to restrain him. The deputies were taken to a nearby hospital where they were treated and subsequently released.
Once in custody, officers went inside the residence and found three people "covered in blood."
One of the victims, who said they were "afraid to flee," reportedly told law enforcement officials Albritton threatened them with the hatchet "any time they tried to move." The three people found inside the residence were all transported to hospitals.
The Hardee County Sheriff's Office dubbed Albritton a "chronic offender." In 1997, Albritton was reportedly sentenced to 25 years in prison for murder. He also served prison time for false imprisonment, shooting into a dwelling, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. He was most recently released on Aug. 13.
On Sunday, Albritton was taken into custody on charges of attempted second-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting officer with violence, attempted second-degree murder, domestic violence — aggravated battery, battery on a law enforcement officer, domestic violence — false imprisonment, and resisting officer without violence.
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