Armed looters targeting homes and businesses in county ravaged by Hurricane Michael

CBS News ^ | October 17, 2018, 10:56 AM | Sarah Lynch Baldwin

[BenLurkin]

Deputies in Bay County, Florida, who are working in Hurricane Michael's shattering aftermath, have arrested about 10 suspected looters each night since the storm made landfall a week ago, according to authorities.

Bay County Sheriff's Office Maj. Jimmy Stanford told the News Herald in an article published Tuesday that the looters have targeted businesses and homes. They are almost always armed.

"Most our officers lost their homes, have been working 16- to 18-hour shifts with no sleep, no shower; and now they're encountering armed individuals," Stanford told the publication. "It's a stressful time for everyone in Bay County."

The county is home to Florida's Mexico Beach, a small town on the Gulf Coast that was in the bullseye of Hurricane Michael. It is also home to Panama City and Tyndall Air Force Base, which suffered "widespread catastrophic damage" from the storm.

Pictures showed police detaining people on suspicion of looting and a sign warning people.

[NonValueAdded]

Judge Roy Bean would know how to deal with this.

[vette6387]

“”Most our officers lost their homes, have been working 16- to 18-hour shifts with no sleep, no shower; and now they’re encountering armed individuals,” Stanford told the publication. “It’s a stressful time for everyone in Bay County.””

Just kill a couple of them, problem solved as soon as the “word” gets around. Armed or not, looters should be shot on sight! Disasters should give society a chance to improve the gene pool.

[xzins]

Lock them up and schedule hearings about 5 years from now.

[sevlex]

Shoot On Sight.

The problem will soon sort itself out.

[Perseverando]

This is why a have been a longtime proponent of gun control for democrats.

[Perseverando]

Shoot On Sight.

And it completely eliminates concerns about recidivism.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Back during the Johnstown Flood and San Francisco earthquake, looters were immediately hanged or shot on sight.

It worked.

[Cobra64]

Yup. Looters should be shot on sight.

[Ingtar]

Word is that two officers are already dead, though that was not confirmed in the report I read.

[MrEdd]

I see BS news.

Verification of any credible sort that these are actually looters and not the home owners?

[caww]

I think using the term “Looters” is way too soft to define these ‘Armed’ thefts, as well as those stealing anything.....Just because it's a natural disaster does not alter the fact it's a crime to steal what is not yours. ( I give a little latitude if one steals food who is without until rescued)

[caww]

I think using the term “Looters” is way too soft to define these ‘Armed’ thefts, as well as those stealing anything.....Just because it's a natural disaster does not alter the fact it's a crime to steal what is not yours. ( I give a little latitude if one steals food who is without until rescued)

[Reno89519]

Looters should be shot on sight. No exceptions.

[\/\/ayne]

Is this them?

[stylin19a]

I wonder if the Gobv. can call out the National Guard to help whack the looters and give the LEOs a break to SSSS.

[wardamneagle]

thought the National Guard was deployed ?

[Mr. Jeeves]

Shoot On Sight.

Democrats always object to such talk, because the crime being committed is too close to being a key part of their party platform. :)

[DownInFlames]

Time to deputize the militia.

[PghBaldy]

Some were caught on tape by news crews. I saw two young blacks in a closed store that left with a filled backpack.