Gregory Kielma • December 10, 2023

Florida Police Department Pledges to Stop Keeping Ammunition Seized as Evidence

Florida Police Department Pledges to Stop Keeping Ammunition Seized as Evidence

By
TTAG Contributor
December 7, 2023


By Lee Williams 

Last April Fools’ Day, a 61-year-old Miami man had a defensive gun usage in Florida City, Florida, which is certainly no surprise. Florida City was once considered the most dangerous city in the Sunshine State. 

The man, who did not want his name used in this story, was at a fast-food restaurant when he was accosted by an individual who he now believes was emotionally disturbed. The man was filling his water bottle at a soda machine when someone behind him said, “I’m from prison. Don’t’ touch my food or I’ll kill you.” He quickly left the restaurant. 

The disturbed man followed the victim outside, screaming about how he was going to kill him for touching his food. 

“He was reaching in his pockets, being aggressive, saying how he was going to kill me, reaching into his pockets. He then ripped off his t-shirt and started running toward me very aggressively. I pulled my 9mm and told him to stop,” the victim said. 

The victim kept walking backward, telling the suspect to stay back. At one point he tripped over some rocks, fell back onto his butt and had a negligent discharge. Fortunately, the round went into the ground striking no one. The victim got up and continued backing away from the man. 

“He kept being aggressive, telling me to go ahead and shoot him. I kept walking away – about an eighth of a mile. He followed me the whole way, screaming and telling me to shoot him,” the victim said. 

Florida City Police officers finally arrived. After two hours of questioning, they confiscated the victim’s Taurus G2c and two loaded magazines and then let him go. They took the disturbed man to a local mental health facility, where he was admitted for a 72-hour psychiatric hold, which is known in Florida as a Baker Act. 

The incident occurred three months before Florida’s unlicensed concealed-carry law took effect, but the victim had a valid Florida Concealed Weapon or Firearm license. It took 68 days for FCPD’s investigation to conclude. The victim was not charged with any crime. 

When he went to the police department to retrieve his property the ammunition was gone. The department’s property clerk, Krishen Boodoo, told him the ammunition was confiscated. “We don’t return ammo,” Boodoo allegedly said. “The department will probably use it for training.” 

This policy, one expert says, is patently illegal. 

“To be clear, this is theft and it’s also a preemption violation,” said Jacksonville attorney Eric Friday, a firearms law and Second Amendment rights specialist and general counsel for Florida Carry, Inc.

Florida’s powerful preemption statute declares that only the state legislature can regulate firearms. Any public official who violates the law can be removed from office and face fines of up to $5,000, which they must pay personally.

Law enforcement unlawfully confiscating firearms, ammunition and personal property is an “awful issue statewide,” Friday said. “I just filed suit against the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office over a similar issue last week,” he said. 

Previously, Friday explained, Florida law allowed Sheriffs to sell confiscated arms and ammunition to Federal Firearm Licensees and then deposit the money into their budget. However, at some point the legislature realized that created an improper incentive for law enforcement. Now, when Sheriffs sell firearms or ammunition to a gun dealer, the money must be deposited into the state education fund. 

“Every time a sheriff destroys a useful weapon instead of selling it to an FFL, they are taking money out of the education fund and from the children of Florida,” Friday said. 

Corrections made  

Florida Carry sent a letter to Florida City Police Chief Pedro Taylor, warning him of the possibility of litigation, the apparent preemption violation, and that his department, “has a policy of not returning ammunition that has been taken from licensed, law-abiding citizens.”

In an email sent Tuesday, FCPD internal affairs Detective Julian Hoyte said, “the Florida City Police Department has reviewed and is immediately correcting this matter regarding confiscation of ammunition. All correction(s) are been made (sic) to ensure ammunition is returned to licensed, law-abiding citizens. Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.”

Hoyte’s email chain contained another email, which Chief Taylor sent to his property clerk, Boodoo. 

“Please see me,” the chief told his clerk. 

Crime is out of control in Florida City. It has a violent crime rate of 2908.8 per 100,000 people, which is considerably higher than the national crime rate of 369.8 per 100,000 people. 

Florida City’s 11,245 residents have a 1 in 34.4 chance of being a violent crime victim. In comparison statewide, Floridians have a 1 in 260.7 chance of being a violent crime victim. 

In an interview Wednesday, Chief Taylor wasn’t exactly sure how long his department’s ammunition confiscation policy had been in effect.
“I would say, I’m not even sure. It’s been a while. Maybe since 2012 to 2013,” the chief said. “I’m not sure. It’s something that was just brought to my attention. I would have to see.”

As to the allegations his officers were committing theft, Chief Taylor said, “I have to talk to my attorney. We’re not stealing ammo. We have a 90-day policy. Once they don’t claim it, it’s destroyed.” 

That is bunk, the victim said. He tried to reclaim his ammunition from the city well within the chief’s 90-day window. “It was defensive ammo, which isn’t cheap,” he said. “I wanted it back and they wouldn’t give it to me.” 
 
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This story is part of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project and is published here with their permission.


By Gregory Kielma December 5, 2025
5 accused antifa supporters plead guilty to terrorism offense in ICE facility shooting that wounded LEO By Jamie Stengle Associated Press DALLAS — Five people pleaded guilty Wednesday to terrorism-related charges after they were accused of supporting antifa in a July shooting that wounded a police officer outside a Texas immigration detention center. The charges brought by the Justice Department followed President Donald Trump signing an order that designated antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. Trump has blamed antifa for political violence. FBI Director Kash Patel has previously said the charges in Texas are the first time a material support to terrorism charge has targeted antifa. A police officer was injured in the July 4 shooting near Dallas outside the Prairieland Detention Center, where federal prosecutors say an antifa cell carried out an attack that included gunfire and fireworks aimed toward the facility. Nathan Baumann, Joy Gibson, Seth Sikes, Lynette Sharp and John Thomas each entered guilty pleas to one count of providing material support to terrorists in federal court in Fort Worth. They face up to 15 years in prison at sentencing. Sharp’s attorney, Erin Kelley, said entering the plea was “step one in a long process” before the sentence is actually determined. Lawyers for the other four defendants either did not immediately return messages Wednesday or comment. Cases against others also charged in the shooting remain ongoing. According to court documents, one member of the group outside the facility yelled “get to the rifles” and then opened fire as officers responded, striking an Alvarado Police Department officer in the neck area. He fell to the ground but was able to return a few shots. Prosecutors say more rounds were then fired at the wounded officer and an unarmed DHS correction officer. Court documents say Gibson, Baumann and Sikes were among those who were present the night of the attack and were arrested shortly after, while Sharp and Thomas were among those who helped the accused shooter avoid arrest until July 15. Others are scheduled for arraignment in the case next month, including Zachary Evetts, whose attorney, Patrick McLain, has said he’s seen no evidence to support the government’s view of the case. “Mr. Evetts has never been a member of anything like a ‘North Texas Antifa Cell,’ and from the evidence provided to us by the government so far, there is no evidence that such an organization ever existed,” McLain said Saturday. Days after that shooting, a man with an assault rifle fired dozens of rounds at federal agents and a U.S. Border Patrol facility in McAllen near the Mexico border, injuring a police officer. Authorities shot and killed the attacker.
By Gregory Kielma December 5, 2025
Dalmin Muran DEPUTIES ARREST SACRAMENTO MAN AND SEIZE LARGE WEAPONS CACHE AFTER SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY AT LOCAL SCHOOLS, BAILS OUT HOURS LATER Last week, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Threat Management Unit, with assistance from the Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Detail (SED), Critical Incident Negotiations Team (CINT), and multiple other specialized tactical units, executed a search warrant on 29-year-old Dalmin Muran following an ongoing investigation into concerning and escalating behavior. The investigation was started after Muran was repeatedly observed engaging in suspicious activity at local schools in East Sacramento County, including Rosemont High School. In one instance, Muran drove his vehicle onto school grounds during nighttime hours and was seen wearing military-style clothing and night-vision optics. He complied when contacted by security, who told him he had to leave, despite insisting he should be allowed access since the schools are “public grounds.” He claimed to have prior military service during other contacts, although it was determined he never had . Muran also expressed interest in joining law enforcement. During the execution of the search warrant, Deputies recovered multiple law enforcement patches and tactical gear, including those from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. They also discovered numerous firearms that had been modified from their original California-compliant configuration. One unserialized short-barreled rifle (sometimes referred to as a “ghost gun”) was also located hidden in the attic as the warrant was being served, along with hundreds of firearm parts and components used to build or alter weapons. Deputies also found multiple smoke grenades, flash bangs, and pepper spray deployable smoke grenades within the residence, further contributing to public safety concerns and the seriousness of the investigation. Muran was booked into custody at the Sacramento County Main Jail for multiple felony charges but was released on bond hours later. Detectives are concerned that there may be unreported incidents in which Muran represented himself as law enforcement and/or attempted to enforce laws. The Sheriff’s Office urges anyone who may have had suspicious contact with Muran, particularly instances in which he represented himself as law enforcement or attempted to enforce laws, to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Threat Management Unit immediately through our non-emergency line at (916) 874-5115 for follow-up. The investigation remains ongoing.
By Gregory Kielma December 5, 2025
Why do policemen carry their sidearms in open holsters? Is it easy for anyone to grab them? Gregg Kielma Unknown to most people with casual familiarity with firearms, virtually all holster (especially those used by law enforcement) have a locking system, even if it isn’t easily seen. In fact, I don’t know of any police departments that doesn’t require one on holsters. Now some are much more effective than others, but almost all of them require one. For civilians, especially if carrying concealed, this system just uses tension, but even most civilians use holsters with a locking system that needs to be disengaged before drawing a firearm. The best locking systems can, with practice, be disengaged while drawing, in one smooth action. The holster above is from Safariland and uses their GLS locking system . On the right-hand side is a small protrusion which is a lock release. If you are drawing correctly, as you grab the firearm your finger should automatically hit and release it. While it takes some practice to make it completely smooth, most concealed carriers and law enforcement should already be practicing their draws at least once a week. On the other hand, if you are unfamiliar with the system (which 99% of the general public is) you’ll have no clue how to disengage the lock and will only end up pulling the wearer’s pants up an inch or two. Even if you pulled hard enough to remove the holster completely from the wearer’s pants, you still wouldn’t be able to use the firearm as all proper holsters (which is all the holsters Safariland makes) completely cover the trigger (never buy a holster that doesn’t completely cover the trigger). Many manufacturers produce similar holsters that use their own unique proprietary systems, the one below just happens to be the one I’m most familiar with.
By Gregory Kielma December 5, 2025
Gregg Kielma in his GUN SHOP What is an "idiot scratch" on a firearm? Kielma says, if you scratch your firearm, I can fix it for you. Give me a call and I’ll do my best to make it look new again. Let’s TAKE A LOOK at a friend and my thoughts. The 1911 is one of the most iconic handguns in the world. Dozens of manufacturers make them. You might find a cheap, used 1911 for as little as $200 if you shop. On the other hand, you could find a Cabot 1911 for around a million dollars. Regardless of how expensive it is, a 1911 is venerated within the gun community. Beloved. An “idiot scratch” is something you see most commonly on 1911s, especially those owned by inexperienced or careless gun owners. I don’t agree with calling anyone an idiot. I don’t think of myself as incompetent. I have a scratch. It just isn’t obvious. How does that happen? In my case, it was just the fact that I’ve disassembled and reassembled that thing in a lot of different scenarios, including in low light situations. I’ve probably disassembled and reassemble it literally hundreds of times for various reasons (including converting it to a .22lr pistol). Why does it happen? It has a spring in there pushing a peg forward. If not careful the spring will “pop” out and could scratch your firearm. The peg makes it slightly more difficult to get this slide stop in place. That’s what scratches your frame. People who are new, careless, or whatever sometimes sweep up to get that slide stop in place. Now remember that while you’re doing all that, you’re also holding the slide back just the right amount to get it all to line up so that the notch in the slide fits. Accidents happen. It isn't that big of a deal. I could probably buff mine out, it’s so light. I just don’t care. My 1911 is one of my least favorite guns to shoot. That’s why it sits in the safe 99% of the time when I go to the range. I’d rather be shooting my CZ 97B. I don’t care about such things and don’t judge people who have marks. They could be exceptional shooters and just… not care about cosmetics. Maybe it isn’t even their mark but rather one caused by the last owner. It doesn’t affect function. It’s just… guys giving each other the business, like “Clips” vs. “magazines.” Lol If you scratch your firearm, I can fix it for you. Give me a call and I’ll do my best to make it look new again.
By Gregory Kielma December 5, 2025
Do gun owners realize there is a limit on how many guns they can own at a time? Thoughts from an avid reader of the blog. What’s your thoughts on this? It is true. But we don’t like to talk about this subject much. When I was a bachelor living in an apartment, a gun safe was impractical. And closets were…packed. So I had 4 cased rifles under my bed. When I was married and had kids, the gun safe was practical. I filled it. Now that we are empty nesters and less demands on my wallet…. I asked Senior Management if I maybe could get a bigger gun safe to put a few more guns in? Senior Management went all practical and rational (I hate when that happens), “Why do you need more guns? You hardly shoot the ones you have!” So, I bought a case of ammunition instead. Keep up the good work by asking anti-gun questions. It reminds us of the haters lurking out there. Do yourself a favor, stock up on guns and ammo. I will note that I am a typical redneck American gun nut. Working in technology, have couple degrees, bit over 800 books in my Kindle. Accuracy snob. Uninterested in anything rapid fire - hit with the first shot saves both time and ammo. Served in the reserves. Ready to protect the weak from predators - except we don’t even tolerate that here in the first place. Can’t remember how to skin a deer, it’s been years. Can build a campfire. live in the woods for a weekend on canteen of water and 3 trail bars, been even longer. Can remember how to train youngsters on safe handling and excellent marksmanship, recent as last week.
By Gregory Kielma December 3, 2025
More Mixed Signals From The U.S. Justice Department On Second Amendment Support We’ve reported lately how the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) seems to have a somewhat schizophrenic attitude when it comes to supporting the Second Amendment. On one hand, the DOJ claims to be doing everything it can to restore Americans’ 2A rights. On the other hand, DOJ attorneys will defiantly argue in support of an obviously unconstitutional infringement. In late November, the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) and Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) lambasted the DOJ for trying to limit a critical Second Amendment court ruling. After a court ruled that the nationwide ban on concealed carry in post offices is unconstitutional, the DOJ filed a motion to limit the scope of the injunction to only the named individual plaintiffs and to members of SAF and its partner organizations, but only to those who were members when the complaint was originally filed and who have been identified and verified. In other words, the government wants to keep the ban intact for the rest of America’s lawful gun owners. “The critical thing to remember here is that the government is fighting tooth and nail to continue enforcing an unconstitutional law against as many people as possible,” SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut said. “The DOJ’s position that it would be ‘impossible’ for it to know who was protected by the injunction without a membership list is just plain silly. If officials want to know if someone found to be carrying at a post office is a SAF member, they can simply ask.” Less than a week later, Reuters published information about a leaked DOJ plan to expand gun-rights protections with a new office in its civil rights division dedicated to enforcing the U.S. constitutional right to bear arms. The office, called the Second Amendment Rights Section, is expected to open on December 4 and will be dedicated to investigating local laws or policies that limit gun rights, something the Trump Administration has promised since its first week in office.
By Gregory Kielma December 3, 2025
Michigan Governor Whitmer Surprise: Whitmer’s Anti-Gun Task Force Says Stricter Gun Laws Are The Answer To Violence Mark Chesnut “Garbage in, garbage out” is an old computer science axiom that describes how flawed, biased or poor-quality input will produce equally flawed, biased or poor-quality output. Of course, the principle doesn’t only apply to computer science. The entire gun control world often operates on this same premise. So, consider how unsurprising it truly is that a task force that Democrat Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer created to make policy recommendations to curb violence is urging state lawmakers to ban the possession of so-called “assault weapons” and “large-capacity” magazines. According to a report at michiganadvance.com, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive and the task force’s chair, said the group used a “public health” approach to addressing “gun violence” in the state. “There are a lot of issues here that have not historically been thought of as public health issues, and only when we’ve taken this really comprehensive public health approach have we been able to implement real change,” Bagdasarian told the newspaper. “Gun violence is one of those issues.” It’s easy to immediately see how much garbage went into this project, resulting in the garbage that came out. First, Whitmer tasked the group with finding an answer to the “gun violence” problem. That is, indeed, garbage.
By Gregory Kielma December 3, 2025
Florida: Pro-Gun Bill Repealing Adult Age Discrimination Advances to House Vote Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee voted 13-7 to favorably report pro-gun House Bill 133, which restores the ability for young adults to lawfully purchase firearms. The bill now heads to the full House, where it is eligible for a vote when the 2026 regular session begins in January. House Bill 133, sponsored by Rep. Tyler Sirois, restores the ability for young adults to acquire firearms by lowering the minimum age requirement to purchase from 21 to 18. Since 2018, Florida has completely banned 18-to-20-year-olds from purchasing a firearm of any kind, for any purpose. A young adult in violation faces stiff penalties, including up to five years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. On May 16th, the NRA filed a petition for a writ of certiorari in NRA v. Glass, requesting that the U.S. Supreme Court hear its challenge to Florida’s law prohibiting adults under 21 from purchasing firearms.
By Gregory Kielma December 3, 2025
Brady X Poster Gets Undies In A Bundle Over ‘Less-Than-Lethal’ Weapons Proposal Mark Chesnut When an organization goes somewhat berserk on social media, passionately stringing post after post together ostensibly to make some kind of point, you’d normally figure that topic is probably a top priority of that group. That’s why gun-ban group Brady’s recent freak out over less-than-lethal weapons is somewhat bewildering. Brady: NONSENSE Brady, formerly called Handgun Control Inc. before leaders learned that most Americans were against “controlling” handguns, has never seen a gun control scheme that it didn’t embrace. But until the recent flurry of social media activity, so-called less-than-lethal weapons didn’t seem to be on the group’s radar much. That changed big time on November 19, when whoever was handling the organization’s X (formerly Twitter) account. “While the world focused on the Epstein files, Congress took up a dangerous bill that sponsors say is to help law enforcement get greater access to ‘less-than-lethal’ weapons,” Brady posted in a typical manner critical of anything seemingly in the pro-self-defense category. “In reality, it deregulates dangerous weapons to help a billion-dollar weapons industry make more money.” That’s all well and good, but the author seemed not to be able to let the matter go, soon posting more on the topic just a few minutes later. “This bill isn’t from a well-intentioned lawmaker or a group working to prevent deadly police violence,” Brady posted. “It’s backed by the manufacturers of so-called ‘less-than-lethal’ weapons, like tasers, who have started making products that are appropriately classified as guns under the law.” Still apparently not having said enough, the Brady writer entered rant mode with yet a third post a short time later. “In their effort to skirt the regulation of their products, this bill would narrow the definition of firearm and open a new market for untraceable ghost guns, which have already led to thousands of deaths in the last decade,” Brady posted.
By Gregory Kielma December 3, 2025
Extremely Troublesome Department Of Justice Brief Draws Stark Warning From GOA Mark Chesnut A bold brief, recently filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in a case challenging the National Firearms Act (NFA), has one gun-rights organization sounding an alarm. According to Gun Owners of America (GOA), on November 20, the DOJ, in the case Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, filed an “outrageous brief that embraces an alarmingly expansive theory of federal authority.” That assertion runs directly afoul of President Donald Trump’s promise to protect the Second Amendment for all Americans. In responding to GOA and GOF’s “One Big Beautiful Lawsuit,” the DOJ treats Congress’ removal of the historic $200 tax as a pretext to rewrite the limits of congressional power, advancing an argument that would open the door to federal regulation far beyond anything the Framers intended. “GOA and GOF condemn Attorney General Pam Bondi and President Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) for doubling down on enforcement of an archaic and unconstitutional law while simultaneously offering legal theories that would expand federal power to historic levels,” GOA said in a news release revealing the DOJ’s actions. “This is especially striking from an administration that had promised to respect the Second Amendment and review burdensome agency rules.” As GOA further explained, the implications of the DOJ’s stance are immediate and ominous.