WARNING: Video and story contain graphic content that may not be suitable for all viewers. Discretion is advised.
A Tennessee woman is dead after police say she came at them with a medieval-like axe when she was served an eviction notice.
Laronda Sweatt died in hospital on April 6 when Officer Gary Pickard, along with housing officials, went to her home in Gallatin, Tenn. to evict her. According to a spokesperson for the Gallatin Police Department, Sweatt knew she was being evicted that day.
Sweatt allegedly met with the officer and housing officials in her front yard – that’s when Pickard said he noticed she had a weapon in her hand.
“She charged at the deputy and cut his stomach,” Stroment said. “He’s in good condition now. He had to get about 20-22 staples.”
Pickard called for backup.
One of the two officials who arrived on the scene was Officer James Spray who is seen in the video with Sweatt.
In the body cam footage, Spray can be heard telling Sweatt to get to the ground and drop the axe.
“She charged towards him with the axe so he drew his weapon,” said Stroment. “She chased him around a car and he gave commands for her to drop the weapon but she kept coming towards him, backing him up into the vehicle.”
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The information officer also said when officials disarmed Sweatt, she was found with a sword, knife and ninja-star on her.
“It’s an unsettling situation,” Stroment said about the incident. “Unfortunate it ended the way it did.”
When asked about allegations that Sweatt suffered from a mental illness, Stroment said Sweatt’s mother claimed she was bi-polar.
“The officers did not know [of her condition] upon arriving to the scene. All they knew was that they were being confronted by a violent person,” Stroment said.
He went on to say that officers are trained to deal with the mentally ill in cases such as this one.
Stroment said officers are involved in annual training to comply to these protocols.
“In this case, Spray was trying to put space but [Sweatt] chased him, backed him up, he had no where else to go. She was raging and not listening to him. Her intentions were clear.”
Stroment also said the police department has offered to show the family the full video because they are “not happy” with the way the situation unfolded.
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