Machete threat leads to recognition for Clay County Sheriff

A quick-thinking Northeast Florida Sheriff’s actions regarding a machete-wielding attacker in Clay County has led to some recognition from Attorney General Ashley Moody.

“Seeing someone armed with a machete in a public store would be a sign for most people to run away. However, by single-handedly disarming and detaining the dangerous individual, Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook led by example and de-escalated what could have been a life-threatening situation. Florida is safer because of heroes like Cook, and it is my privilege to present her with a Back the Blue Award,” Moody said.

“I am extremely humbled by this recognition from Attorney General Moody,” Cook added. “It was an honor to receive an award for doing what I love doing most … serving and protecting the citizens of Clay County.”

The AG’s Office sums up the incident, which happened last year.

“While visiting a local store, Sheriff Cook noticed employees behind the counter looking concerned and trying to get the sheriff’s attention without raising alarm. Sheriff Cook then observed a suspicious individual acting erratically and spotted a weapon hidden in the person’s clothes that turned out to be a machete. Sheriff Cook quickly took action, single-handedly disarming and detaining the erratic individual before calling for backup — ensuring no one was injured in the process. The individual subsequently received involuntary examination under Florida’s Baker Act.”

Contemporaneously, Cook summed it up as a matter of “right place, right time.”