AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 29, 2026
Incident Begins With Suspicious Person Call
A man identified as Bradford Kanan, 37, was the subject of a tense law enforcement operation in Volusia County, Florida, after deputies responded to a call about a suspicious person. The incident began around 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening, when deputies found Kanan at a residence on the 6900 block of S. Atlantic Ave in New Smyrna Beach.
Body Camera Captures Threats and Standoff
According to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, body camera video from the scene shows Kanan refusing to comply with deputies’ instructions. He was reportedly sitting in his white Toyota and told responding deputies that he had a weapon. During the standoff, Kanan was heard stating, "I’m not going to jail. You’re going to have to f------ kill me." He argued that the charges tied to his outstanding warrant were being dismissed and repeatedly asked to speak with an attorney.
Fleeing Deputies and Hiding in Brush
Deputies attempted to de-escalate the situation, but Kanan continued to resist. At one point, he declared, "I will die just like this. Do you understand me?" Instead of surrendering, he drove away and headed a short distance to the Apollo Beach boat ramp at the Canaveral National Seashore. There, he abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot into dense brush along the shoreline.
Search and Suspect Apprehension
Law enforcement launched an extensive search, deploying patrol deputies, K-9 units, drone teams, and a helicopter. The search lasted approximately three hours. Around 9 p.m., deputies with the police K-9 unit found Kanan crawling through palm fronds. During his apprehension, Kanan physically resisted and bit K-9 Beny, striking the dog in the neck and ear. Despite these actions, Kanan was safely taken into custody. Deputies reported that no weapon was found on Kanan during his arrest. The sheriff’s office confirmed that K-9 Beny was unharmed.
Arrest Charges and Court Proceedings
Kanan now faces several charges as a result of the incident. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office listed the following charges:
- Aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer (2 counts)
- Fleeing and eluding
- Battery on a police K-9
- Battery on a law enforcement officer
- Possession of drug paraphernalia (methamphetamine pipe)
- Domestic violence battery (existing warrant)
After his arrest, Kanan was transported to a hospital for evaluation before being taken to jail. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office released the body camera footage to the public, though they cautioned that the video contains graphic content.
Graphic Footage and Ongoing Legal Process
This incident drew attention due to the dramatic law enforcement chase and the body camera video documenting the encounter. The charges currently facing Kanan include aggravated assault, battery on a law enforcement officer and a police K-9, fleeing deputies, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Source: clickorlando.com.
