LUTZ, Fla. – An early morning prowler call in Lutz ended in the arrest of three teenagers after they pointed what appeared to be rifles at a sheriff’s office helicopter.
The incident began around 1:40 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, 2026, when the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a prowler in the area of East 148th Avenue. While deputies were en route, the caller updated dispatchers, stating they saw three individuals walking through the neighborhood carrying firearms.
The agency’s Aviation Unit responded to the scene to assist. Pilots located three individuals on the ground, who then pointed the suspected firearms directly at the helicopter. Following the confrontation, the trio entered a nearby residence.
Deputies on the ground surrounded the home and ordered the individuals to step outside. Jertrell Hamilton, 19, Javis Hamilton, 15, and Brayden Eason, 15, complied with the orders and were taken into custody without further incident.
A subsequent investigation revealed that the weapons carried by the teenagers were BB guns rather than actual rifles.
“Our deputies make split-second decisions every day to protect this community, and we have zero tolerance for anyone who points what appears to be a weapon at them, whether they’re on the ground or in the air,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “If you aim what looks like a rifle at one of our deputies or our Aviation Unit, expect our immediate response and to be held fully accountable for your actions.”
All three teenagers were arrested and face two counts each of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer with a Deadly Weapon. The investigation remains active.
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