Deputy nearly shoots man hired as armed security by victims of horse slaughter in Palmetto

MANATEE -- A man was nearly shot by a deputy early Oct. 26 in Palmetto after the owner of a recently slaughtered showhorse hired three men with unspecified credentials to do armed security around the property, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

A 1,300-pound horse named Phedras de Blondel, recently purchased by Debbie Stephens of Imperial Farms Equestrian Center in rural Palmetto from an owner in Germany, was led from his stall at Imperial Farms by someone between 8:30 p.m. Oct. 24 and 6:45 a.m. Oct. 25, taken to a pen in the back of the 27-acre farm, killed and expertly butchered, said Debbie's husband, Steve Stephens, the owner of Imperial Farms since the early 1960s.

No one has been charged in the case. Dave Bristow, spokesman for the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, said they have no new leads to announce to the public.

At 1:25 a.m. Oct. 26, a deputy was conducting a targeted patrol after a recent crime, according to a report. He found a red Chevy SUV parked in an odd manner at the shoulder at the intersection of Moccasin Wallow Road and Gillette Drive, and a man sleeping in the driver's seat.

The deputy looked into the vehicle with a flashlight and saw a pitbull in the backseat and a revolver in the man's hand, according to the report. He retreated behind his patrol vehicle and called for backup since he wasn't sure if the man was involved in a crime due to the recent animal cruelty incident nearby.

The man exited the vehicle shortly after backup was called and approached the deputy, who could not tell if the man still held a revolver. The deputy told him repeatedly to stop and put his hands in the air, then pointed his gun at the man with his finger on the trigger.

The man ignored the deputy and continued to approach saying he had permission to be there.

The man finally halted when the deputy told him he was going to be shot if he did not stop, according to the report. Another deputy arrived and handcuffed the man who "kept trying to argue."

The deputy found the revolver on the driver's seat of the vehicle.

The man said he was hired for security by Debbie Stephens and Steve Stephens gave him the gun. The report did not indicate whether the man had proper security credentials or a concealed carry permit.

Another property employee arrived and told deputies Debbie Stephens hired three men for security following the slaughter of her horse. She said the man was one of those hired for security.

A basic background check revealed the man had no felony convictions but his driver's license was suspended.

The man was released and the deputy tried to explain the "gravity" of the situation, according to the report.

The man told the deputy he had no reason to speak to him that way and he was going to drive home. The deputy told him he would be arrested if he did because his driver's license was suspended.

The gun was given to the employee to return to Steve Stephens.

Stephens said Tuesday the man was a horse handler who was asked to stand guard at the stable overnight.

"We just put one of our boys that night to be the guard, then the sheriff's office drove by and drove up on him, and they don't know who he is, but he's our guy," he said. "They were doing their job because of what happened the night before and they didn't know him from Adam. ... We had to do something because we have clients and customers that want the field secure."

Stephens said his farm couldn't go unprotected and confirmed the gun was returned to him.

"He was on private property," Stephens said when asked about the employee having the gun. "You can't be Roy Rogers and carry it on your hip, but I think if he was out protecting the stable, I'm sure he didn't to meet up with the horse killers if they happened to decide to return the next night."

Aside from night-vision cameras newly installed at the farm, Stephens said he is working on more safety measures, including securing horse stall doors and new locks on the barn.

He also wanted to remind the public of the $30,000 reward he and his wife still hope will lead to the people responsible for killing their 12-year-old prize show jumper.

"I'm so scared to go into my own barn," Stephens said. "I have the barn so protected now, I'm afraid if I go into it. I will probably set off the alarm myself."

Kate Irby, Herald online/political reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7055 or at kirby@bradenton.com. Follow her on Twitter@AmarisCastillo.

This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 6:53 PM with the headline "Deputy nearly shoots man hired as armed security by victims of horse slaughter in Palmetto ."