Chiefland intruder held captive by homeowner at gun point
Mugshot of McCalla, courtesy of LCSO.
Intruder claims he came to the area to meet with local drug dealer he used drugs with before the drug dealer chased and tried to kill him.
Chiefland, Florida - According to a June 10, 2022 press release, last month, on Friday, May 6, 2022, the Levy County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a homeowner in the Chiefland area, who reported that a man - later identified as 28 year-old Andre Troy McCalla of Gulfport, Florida (a distance of approximately 140 miles away) - had forced his way into their home. The homeowner told the 911 operator that they opened the door to the home, due to a person frantically pounding on the door, and the intruder pushed the homeowner aside and ran into the home. The caller said that they would be holding the intruder at gunpoint until deputies arrived at the home.
Deputy Kristen Gerace was the first to arrive on scene, to find the homeowner and the next door neighbor inside the home's laundry room, both with guns trained on Mr. McCalla. Deputy Gerace placed Mr. McCalla into handcuffs. Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum and a police officer with the Chiefland Police Department arrived on scene to assist Deputy Gerace.
The law enforcement officers learned that McCalla had arrived in the Chiefland area to meet with a local drug dealer. According to LCSO Lt. Scott Tummond, McCalla told Deputy Gerace that he consumed methamphetamine, crack cocaine and marijuana with the local drug dealer before the drug dealer began chasing him through the woods, trying to kill him. He told Deputy Gerace that he ran to this home trying to get help.
McCalla also told officers that he'd been shot in the foot by the people chasing him, and he was bleeding profusely. However, Deputy Gerace and first responders with emergency medical services found no gunshot wounds on Mr. McCalla, although he did have large cuts to his feet.
McCalla was treated for his injuries, then arrested by Deputy Gerace, charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling and battery. McCalla was taken to the Levy County Detention Bureau with his bond set at $30,000.
“I remind each homeowner to be prepared to protect their home and family," said Sheriff McCallum. "Residents need to take every precaution, by keeping their doors and vehicle locked, and their valuables secured. In this instance, the homeowner was prepared, and exercised great restraint. Because of this restraint, and our quick response to the scene, no one was injured, and the suspect was taken to jail. Justice was swiftly served, and a person who came to our quiet community to commit crimes will spend time behind bars at our detention center.”