Florida man accused of holding three hostage, attacking deputies with hatchet

A 61-year-old Florida man armed with a hatchet held three victims hostage inside a home and then attacked two deputies with the weapon, authorities said Tuesday.

All five victims were treated at medical facilities, and Mitchell Albritton was arrested and jailed after Sunday night’s incident, according to the Hardee County Sheriff ’s Office.

The three hostages were found covered in blood inside a residence in Wauchula Hills, about 70 miles southwest of Orlando.

“One of the victims stated they were afraid to flee because Albritton would pick up the hatchet any time they tried to move,” the sheriff ’s office said.

When law enforcement officials arrived after a 911 call was received about 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Albritton told them he was armed and attempted to close the door.

However, deputies forced the door open to subdue Albritton.

That’s when he struck them with the hatchet before he was restrained, the sheriff ’s office said.

The Wauchula and Bowling Green Police Departments also responded to the scene.

Albritton was charged with attempted second degree murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, resist officer with violence, attempted second degree murder, domestic violence — aggravated battery, battery on a law enforcement officer, domestic violence — false imprisonment, and resist officer without violence.

The sheriff ’s office described Albritton as a “chronic offender” and said he had been released from prison on Aug. 13 and placed on active conditional release supervision.

“Publicly available Department of Corrections records show that the defendant was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 1997 for murder. The same records also show an incarceration history for False Imprisonment, Shooting into a Dwelling, Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition,” the sheriff ’s office said.

Albritton