Bruce Hicks, 46, of Plant City, was arrested May 16, for possessing a .32-caliber handgun while on a middle school campus.
According to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reports, at about 4 p.m., Turkey Creek Middle School Resource Deputy Patrick Diaz and Principal Dennis Mayo were outside of the school monitoring students in the parent pick-up line. Diaz then spotted Hicks, of Plant City, walking along Connell Road, next to the school. He was pushing a dolly, which had a plastic toy car attached. Diaz spotted what appeared to be small firearm holstered on his left hip.
As Hicks continued walking, Diaz called for Hicks, who turned around, stepping on the grass of the school’s property. Upon initial contact with Hicks, he stated there was a $250 fine for every 15 minutes of unlawful detention. He stated he is a sovereign citizen and is not subject to the laws of the United States or Hillsborough County.
Diaz asked him if he was carrying a firearm, and Hicks stated he was and repeated that he was not subject to laws.
Diaz then seized Hicks’ Davis Industries two-shot handgun. There were two live cartridges in the barrels.
Hicks was transported to a Hillsborough County jail without incident.
Stephen Hegarty, communications officer for Hillsborough County Public Schools, said the district notified parents May 17, through an automated call. Because Hicks “showed no signs that he intended to go to the school,” Turkey Creek was not placed on lockdown, he said.
“(Because) there was no disruption to the school, nor any danger to the students and staff, it’s a judgment call,” Hegarty said. “The principal made that judgment call and notified families, basically to thank the deputy for working every day to keep everyone safe.”
Hicks has an extensive criminal history, including lewd or lascivious molestation of victims under 18.
The FBI considers sovereign-citizen extremists as a domestic terrorist movement, which, scattered across the United States, has existed for decades. Sovereign citizens do not represent an anarchist group, nor are they a militia, although they sometimes use or buy illegal weapons. Rather, they operate as individuals without established leadership and only come together in loosely affiliated groups to train, help each other with paperwork or socialize and talk about their ideology. For more information on “Sovereign Citizens,” click here.Related Stories
