Cops Chased ‘Wanted’ Armed Suspect Through Florida Walmart: Authorities

Cops in Florida ran after a wanted man allegedly armed with a stolen gun through an aisle in a Walmart store in a police chase lasting for several minutes before the suspect was detained.
On Sunday, 36-year-old Joshua Comer was arrested by Marion Country Sheriff’s Office Deputy Daniel Boucher on charges of extortion, battery on a law enforcement officer, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, carrying a concealed firearm, sexual cyber-harassment, resisting arrest without violence, criminal mischief and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a statement on the sheriff’s office Facebook page.
The man’s vehicle was located by Marion County officers in the parking lot of the Walmart store in Dunnellon, and when they entered the store they spotted the suspect in the produce section with a shopping cart, according to the post.
The Sheriff’s office says Comer quickly seemed to notice the deputies and began to run through the store to leave through a side exit. It also states that, once Comer exited the store, he released the shopping cart he was pushing, which crashed into a vehicle, causing $500 in damage.
In bodycam footage released by the Marion County sheriff’s office, the deputies can be seen running past the fruit and vegetables in the store and out of a side door, through storage areas, and out into the car park, where they catch up to the suspect and take hold of the shopping cart the suspect released.
After he was captured by the officers, authorities say a search revealed that the suspect was also in possession of a stolen shotgun, which he had stashed in the bushes of the Walmart parking lot, and that he had two clear pipes that tested positive for fentanyl.
Prior to the Walmart police chase, Comer had reportedly been wanted after an individual reported that Comer sent her text messages telling her to send him money, according to the sheriff’s office.
When she refused, Comer is accused of threatenening to spread sexually explicit photos of her online, and two days later, he sent an explicit video to two of her friends on Facebook Messenger, according to authorities.
As Deputy Boucher continued investigating the report, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office noted that the Levy County sheriff’s office requested that the Marion County authorities be on the lookout for Comer, as he was suspected of robbing a gas station in the region while on route to Marion County.
Comer was taken to Marion County jail, and is accused of assaulting an officer while he was being booked in. He remains in custody without bond.
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this article? Contact [email protected].