5 Deputies Cleared In Shooting
By JOE SEELIG

SEBRING — Five deputies were cleared in the Feb. 16 shooting of a man who shot his wife and fled the scene.

Highlands County Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs Lt. Gus Garcia said Friday he cleared the deputies in the shooting of Charles Schmidt, who shot his wife which led to a half-day manhunt that ended in his death.

Schmidt died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head, according to the medical examiner.

Garcia said he submitted his report on March 1 for the sheriff’s review. It was several days later that Garcia said he received his report back indicating that Sheriff Susan Benton concurred. The report was forwarded to the state attorney’s office.

To add to the deputies’ good news, Assistant State Attorney Stephen K. Houchin delivered a letter dated March 8 to Sheriff Benton clearing them of any wrong doing.

After discussing the case with State Attorney Jerry Hill, the state found the actions of the officers involved were justified and no further legal action will be taken.

Schmidt, 46, of 5226 Barnum St., DeSoto City, reportedly shot and wounded his wife Christine during an argument and was pursued at about 10 a.m. into a series of orange groves by nine Special Response Team members along with a K-9 deputy.

Deputies believed he was armed. It turned out they were right.

At about 2 p.m. the deputies and a second tracking K-9 unit, finally caught up with Schmidt, who reportedly was seen behind a tree by a deputy about 30 yards away east of County Road 17.

The deputy ordered Schmidt to drop his 45-caliber handgun, but he did not. Instead, Schmidt raised his weapon in the direction of the team, according to reports.

Believing their lives were in danger the deputies opened fire, firing 59 rounds and hitting Schmidt six to seven times. Schmidt died at Highlands Regional Medical Center within the hour.

Those five team members were on temporary paid administrative leave until the shooting review was conducted. The K-9 officer did not fire his weapon.

They were returned to desk administrative duty on Feb. 28 and as of Friday they will all be able to resume their regular duties, said Sheriff’s Maj. Mark Schrader.

Weapons discharged included three MP-5 machine guns for a total of 44 rounds, a Glock model 22 fired 12 rounds, an H&K G36 .223-caliber submachine gun fired three rounds.