Sheriff Grady Judd warns that Polk County residents are armed.
As protests continue across the country, Trump has advocated for the use violence against those participating (and then proceeded to pat himself on the back), and it’s a sentiment that’s been echoed by a sheriff based in Central Florida.
Sheriff Grady Judd participated in a conference on Monday alongside other law enforcement and religious figures, where he warned any protestors or rioters in Polk County that the residents are equipped with guns, as though to scare them f. This was apparently in response to social media posts insinuating that riots and looting would affect residential neighborhoods.
“The people Polk County like guns, they have guns, I encourage them to own guns, and they’re going to be inside their homes tonight with their guns loaded,” Judd said, as reported by WFLA 8. “And if you try to break into their homes tonight and try to steal, to set fires, I’m highly recommending they blow you back out the house with their guns.”
Judd, however, also supported the arrest Derek Chauvin in the murder George Floyd, stating: “The death George in Minneapolis at the hands that police ficer was outrageous. Had that police ficer done here what he did there, he would have been locked up in the county jail by sundown.”
Polk County imposed a curfew from 8 PM on Monday to 5 AM on Tuesday.