Sheriff – NBC New York

Lina PortmanJune 6, 2024

1 1 minute read

Video shows a car crashing into the lobby of a Florida prison, driven by a man who authorities say was naked from the waist down and who threatened to kill officers.

The incident occurred late Monday evening in the lobby of the Martin County Jail when Joseph Leedy, 40, drove his car up to the entrance, the sheriff's office said.

Surveillance videos released by the sheriff's office showed the Toyota sedan slamming into the front doors.

Leedy got out of the car wearing a women's blouse and no pants, then poured motor oil on the ground and said he wanted to set it on fire, authorities said.

He also made “homicidal statements” toward officers, said he wanted to “kill everyone” and threw rubber snakes on the ground, authorities said.

“As our deputies interacted with him, he kept saying things like, 'The devil told me to kill everyone.' And he continued to share his disdain for President Donald Trump,” Deputy Chief John Budensiek said during a news conference Tuesday, according to WPTV.

Leedy fought with deputies and firefighters before being assigned. He was eventually subdued and taken to hospital.

Budensiek said paramedics gave Leedy “several doses of ketamine” to calm him down, but it “didn't put him to sleep.”

He was later incarcerated for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and criminal mischief.

Authorities said no one was in the lobby at the time of the crash, but the incident caused thousands of dollars in damage.

Budensiek said authorities believe Leedy was under the influence of a controlled substance, but are awaiting blood test results.

“The medications that a normal person would be put to sleep by didn't affect him at all. So that leads us to believe that he developed a tolerance to different types of medications,” Budensiek said.