Man charged with attempted hammer assault on officers

YOUNGSTOWN — A man accused of swinging a hammer at Sheriff Tommy Ford and several top ranking officers on Thursday had crashed his car moments before going to a nearby grocery store where he threatened to shoot employees and patrons, according to official reports.

Justin Tyler Stanford, 25, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, assault and resisting arrest with violence in connection with the incident. The Bay County Sheriff’s Office reported initially responding to the Rainbow Food Store, 11798 U.S. 231 in Youngstown, about 11:15 a.m. to a report of an armed and dangerous man in the store and a possible hostage situation. By the end, they learned Stanford allegedly had threatened people at the store with a hammer, then charged and swung it at several officers before being rangled into custody, BCSO reported.

Other than the injuries Stanford received in the crash, though, no other civilians or officers were reported to have sustained injuries.

Ford said it was “absolutely a relief” that the situation did not turn out worse.

“It’s certainly a situation where deadly force could’ve been used,” he said. “I’m proud of everyone for showing that restraint.”

Ford, Chief Joel Heape and Maj. Jimmy Stanford had been on their way to have lunch at a nearby restaurant when they received a call about a man at Rainbow Foods threatening to shoot people. Told they would be encountering a hostage situation, officers began to gear up with vests and high-power rifles when they learned from an employee outside the man had a hammer and was threatening employees, BCSO reported.

Ford, who was in his BCSO uniform, said they could see the man inside hitting the glass window with an object but were still wary he also could have a firearm.

“As we approached, he came outside and we ordered him to get down on the ground,” Ford said. “That’s when he started swinging the hammer and charged at us.”

Justin Stanford then retreated back into the store with the sheriff and deputies following behind. He was bleeding from areas on his face and head and was tracking blood throughout the grocery store. At one point, Stanford tried to hide as officers cut off escape routes, still armed with rifles.

After being taken into custody and transported to a hospital, Stanford allegedly also attacked an officer at the hospital and attempted to take his service weapon, Ford said.

Officers later learned that Stanford had crashed his car moments before entering the grocery store, in which he will be facing additional charges. He also had been removed from the lobby of the sheriff’s office a day earlier after causing a disturbance, Ford said. However, the cause of the string of incidents remains unclear.

“We don’t know if he was under the influence of a substance or if this was a mental issue,” Ford said. “We see this with synthetic drugs but that has yet to be determined.”

Ford said the experience was “surreal,” receiving a call to another possible gunman little more than a week after a man opened fire from an apartment window on dozens of officers gathered below. Ford said he was glad and felt blessed by all of the officers who responded.

“It was just a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach,” he said. “But that’s why I’m proud of all our officers. About 30 of them showed up within minutes prepared to do again what we did last week.”

A previous version of this story can be found below:

YOUNGSTOWN — An man has been arrested after he allegedly attempted to hit the sheriff and several top ranking officers with a hammer, according to official reports.

The Bay County Sheriff's Office has yet to release the man's name, though he has been taken to the hospital for treatment after the incident.

BCSO reported initially responding to the Rainbow Store, 11798 U.S. 231 in Youngstown, at about 11:15 a.m. to a report of an armed and dangerous man in the store threatening employees.

Deputies arrived along with Sheriff Tommy Ford, Chief Joel Heape and Major Jimmy Stanford. After speaking with employees outside the front of the store, officers were able to determine the man inside was armed with a hammer and had threatened to kill people in the store, BCSO reported.

The man, a white male wearing a hoodie, approached the front door from the inside at the same time as Ford, Heape and Stanford.

The man then allegedly began swinging the hammer at the door before retreating back into the store. The sheriff and others entered the store and the man lunged at them, swinging the hammer at them, BCSO reported.

However, authorities were quickly able to subdue him and take him into custody.

The man has been taken to a local hospital for medical attention. He has not yet been identified.

Additional details to be released as they become available.