Bodycam shows fiery hours long standoff at Charlotte County home between man and SWAT
By: -----
Charlotte County, FL - Shortly before 8 p.m. Aug. 17, CCSO deputies responded to 51-year-old Renel Joseph's home in the 28000 block of Pasadena Drive after his family called 911. According to the sheriff's office, Joseph was armed inside the residence with a handgun and an assault rifle.
In the body camera video, a deputy asked Joseph to step outside the home unarmed, and as the deputy approached him, Joseph went back into an enclosed front porch and refused to step outside before going back into the residence.
The deputy continued to try to talk to Joseph in English and Spanish, but Joseph said he was not coming out of the house and told the deputy to "Call SWAT." He also said he would rather be dead than come outside, according to the CCSO.
Joseph then exclaimed that "he was not playing games anymore" before deputies saw him pouring gasoline on the back lanai and on a vehicle in the driveway and setting them on fire.
He then went back inside the house, and "loud explosion-like sounds" could be heard, according to the CCSO.
Deputies said Joseph burned multiple items before the CCSO Crisis Negotiations Team arrived at 8:30 p.m., followed by SWAT at 11:30 p.m. SWAT tried to get Joseph to come out of the home, and after a brief phone conversation with CNT personnel, Joseph reiterated that he was not coming out of the home.
According to the CCSO, SWAT deployed chemical agents into the house, but Joseph stayed inside.
A neighbor's security camera caught the sound of Joseph firing multiple rounds from inside the home at approximately 4:05 a.m. the following day, deputies said.
Joseph fired multiple rounds from different locations inside the home throughout the morning, according to the CCSO.
Around 6:02 a.m., the CCSO said Joseph fired multiple rounds at an armored SWAT vehicle that drove along the side of the home.
Deputies said SWAT continued deploying chemical agents into the residence, but Joseph kept firing out of the back lanai toward the SWAT members.
Joseph set fire to the inside of the home at approximately 6:29 a.m., causing it to fill with heavy smoke, according to the CCSO.
At approximately 6:38 a.m. Joseph walked into the driveway, and SWAT members took him into custody.
After taking him into custody, deputies discovered that Joseph had a gunshot wound to his hand. He was taken to the Gulf Coast Medical Center for treatment.
Deputies said Joseph exited the home with the handgun concealed, but he put it in a trash can as SWAT members gave him commands. A rifle was also found inside the home.
Joseph is facing the following charges:
* Battery (second or subsequent offense)
* Arson of a dwelling or structure with people present
* Arson during the commission of a felony
* Aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer (five counts)
* Resisting with violence
* Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon