Florida Man Cuts Ankle Monitor, Barricades Himself in Apartment Before Dramatic Escape

Created: JANUARY 24, 2025

Early Sunday morning, a chaotic scene unfolded at the Sandalwood Apartments in Wildwood, Florida, involving a man who crashed a car into a building, broke into multiple apartments, and ultimately jumped from a second-story window after a standoff with law enforcement. The Sumter County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as 44-year-old Corey Michael Payton.

Around 3:54 a.m., deputies responded to multiple 911 calls reporting the car crash and subsequent break-ins. Upon arrival, they found Payton barricaded inside an apartment he had allegedly burglarized. He reportedly threatened to shoot deputies, prompting the evacuation of nearby apartments.

Car crashed into building

The incident escalated, requiring the intervention of the Sumter County Sheriff's Office S.W.A.T. team. A Crisis Negotiations Team managed to establish communication with Payton through a second-floor window he had broken. Negotiations continued for several hours, aiming for a peaceful surrender.

However, Payton eventually jumped from the window, landing on the ground below. Villages Fire Rescue personnel provided immediate medical attention, and Payton was airlifted to a regional trauma center.

SWAT team

Inside one of the burglarized apartments, deputies discovered Payton's ankle monitor. He was reportedly on parole for burglary and under supervised release. An arrest warrant had been issued on June 9th due to a parole violation. Payton's criminal history is extensive, including 139 prior felony charges and 30 felony convictions.

The charges related to Sunday's events are still being determined but are expected to include burglary of an occupied dwelling, burglary of a dwelling, and multiple counts of criminal mischief. Payton will be booked into the Sumter County Detention Center upon his release from the hospital.

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