A Century man who allegedly fired shots at a man he suspected was trying to burglarize his residence Monday is facing a felony charge of aggravated assault.
Samuel Oscar Macks, 56, 454 Elsie Davis Drive, told law enforcement he heard a noise on his property near his shed and saw a vehicle on the side of the road, according to an Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office report.
Macks told deputies as he drove his silver vehicle toward the vehicle it drove away but he caught up to it near the end of Elsie Road and the cross street of Century Boulevard, the report said. Macks made contact with the male driver and asked him if he hd been attempting to enter his property illegally. The male denied it and drove away.
Macks said he then saw Mitchell Dunsford sitting on an ATV and confronted Dunsford about entering his property, as Macks believed Dunsford had done so in the past. Macks drove back to his own residence and as he did, saw Dunsford pull into 391 Elsie Davis Road, which is Mack's sister's residence. Macks then drove to Hammac's and got out as Dunsford was driving toward him, the report noted.
Dunsford continued driving toward him before slamming on brakes and began to turn around. Macks stepped back at that point and retrieved his Remington .22 caliber rifle.
Deputies detained Macks at that time and asked where the rifle was. Macks wife, Cheryl Macks, retrieved the weapon from the residence. It was loaded with 16 long rounds, the report said.
During this incident, a male contacted the sheriff's office about a shots fired disturbance.
A second deputy responded and made contact with Dunsford. Dunsford told the deputy he was sitting at his residence on an ATV adding oil due the engine leaking oil when Macks approached him in a silver car and accused him of stealing from his property.
According to the report, Dunsford said Macks retrieved a a .22 caliber rifle with something hanging from it from his car and threatened him with it and fired several shots, causing Dunsford to be in fear for his life. Dunsford said he then went to 391 Elsie Davis Road to ask Robbie Hammac if she had witnessed the altercation. Dunsford said as he was leaving on his ATV, Macks came driving toward him at a high rate of speed and Dunsford drove his ATV at a high rate back to his residence. Dunsford advised he was unsure if Macks had fired the weapon at him on the second encounter because the ATV engine was so loud, the report said.
The deputy made contact with another witness, Steven Mauldin. Mauldin advised what he had witnessed, which was consistent with Dunsford's statement of events. Mauldin said as the four-wheeler drove away from Hammac's residence, Mauldin heard about 5 shots coming from the area of the silver car.
The deputy made contact with Hammac, who stated she was near her mailbox when her brother, Macks, drove up and told her he believed there were people in the neighborhood attempting to burglarize residences, the report said. Hammac's description of events was consistent with Dunsford's but she told deputies she did not hear any shots. She indicated Dunsford had approached her residence asking if she had witnessed Macks pulling a firearm and shooting at him. She informed him that she did not and he left her residence, according to the report.
While in custody, Macks changed his statements several times. He stated he returned to his residence and was nowhere near Dunsford.
Deputies conducted a search of Mack's vehicle and discovered a case of Remington .22 caliber long rounds in the passenger seat and a single .22 caliber long round on the driver's seat.
Macks was arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, transported to Santa Rosa County Jail and given a bond of $3,000.
