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Crime & Public Safety

Sheriff’s Report: Man Arrested After Juvenile Reports Home-Entry Attempt and Gunfire in DeLand

By 3 min read

DELAND, Fla. — A man was arrested after a juvenile reported that he tried to enter a DeLand home and two shots were fired near the front door, according to a Volusia Sheriff’s Office activity report.

Volusia sheriff’s vehicle responding to a reported home-entry attempt and gunfire in DeLand.

The agency logged the July 31 incident as case 260016460. The report says the juvenile was asleep when an unknown man tried to pry open her bedroom window. She told him to leave, then opened the front door to see whether he had gone.

According to the juvenile’s account in the report, the man approached the door and tried to force his way inside. She pushed him away, closed and locked the door and ran back toward her bedroom. She reported hearing two gunshots near the front door, and witnesses told deputies they saw the man fire the shots.

Deputies found spent shell casings on the porch, the report says. Investigative Services and Crime Scene personnel responded. The Sheriff’s Office identified the arrested man in its public summary as Joseph W. Danger Woodard and said he was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail.

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CFL Report’s early video described a large response on Rosewood Drive and called it a possible burglary in progress. The Sheriff’s Office synopsis lists only DeLand and Zone 23, not a street address, so Rosewood Drive is attributed to CFL Report’s on-scene coverage rather than presented as an agency-confirmed location.

The Sheriff’s Office summary describes reported stalking, armed trespassing and firearm-discharge violations, but the public entry is not a court disposition. An arrest is an accusation, and the accused is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

The Sheriff’s Office entry is a daily activity synopsis, not the full incident file. It does not say whether investigators recovered a firearm, found impact damage or determined what led to the reported conduct. Those points remain unknown unless they appear in a later agency release, an incident report or a public court filing.

For readers who encounter a similar emergency, VSO classifies a burglary, prowler or other crime in progress as a reason to call 911. The agency says a telecommunicator’s questions are entered into the computer-aided dispatch system while another telecommunicator can send help, and callers should remain on the line until told to disconnect. Volusia County also supports text-to-911 for an emergency or life-threatening situation.

VSO’s Victim Advocate Unit offers guidance through the criminal-justice process, referrals and emotional support to crime victims and witnesses. The agency lists 386-254-1537 for that unit and says its broader victim/witness point of contact can connect people with medical care, counseling and emergency-financial-assistance resources. This service information is provided for the public generally and does not disclose anything further about the juvenile in this case.

Sources: Volusia Sheriff’s Office District II activity reports, case 260016460, VSO’s 911 information, victim and witness information and records guidance, and the original CFL Report video.