Richard D. Chabot, 33, was a diagnosed schizophrenic and made "growling" noises as he attacked police officers and a Good Samaritan with a sword, before being shot to death in a quiet development off New Berlin Road, Tuesday morning.
But despite Chabot's bizarre behavior that morning, JSO Director of Investigations Dwayne Senterfitt said Chabot had never been arrested before in Duval County. "He has no criminal record, but he does have some history of mental illness, there have been Baker Acts," said Senterfitt. The Baker Act refers to the legal procedure used to incarcerate a suspect when that person has a mental illness and meets criteria for voluntary or involuntary admission.
Senterfitt said it wasn't yet clear if Chabot was on drugs at the time of the incident, but said he had been prescribed medication for schizophrenia. It was not immediately clear if he was on that medication at the time.
Officer Ken Browning, a 14 year veteran, has been involved in a police shooting before. That incident did not result in injury to the suspect. 4 year veteran Officer Robert Wilbanks has never been involved in a shooting. Both officers are on paid leave while a criminal investigation is completed.
Senterfitt said it's not clear if the officers violated any rules by leaving a squad car unlocked and running while struggling with a suspect.
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