In an intense scenario, a St. Augustine woman resorted to an emergency texting service to contact 911 in fear for her life during an early morning disturbance on Monday, at her residence. The suspect, Justin Troy Locke, after breaking into the woman's home, armed himself with a machete, and threatened to burn the property, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
The woman's silent plea for help using the text to 911 service prevented Locke from overhearing her communication with law enforcement; this innovative system is designed as a lifeline for those who are either speech or hearing impaired, or when a voice call to 911 would place them in further danger, the use for those particular circumstances where making a noise could mean revealing hiding places to aggressors or escalating a volatile situation, lessening chances of safety or rescue.
Deputies from the SJSO reacted swiftly upon receiving the text, entering the home and subduing Locke with a 40mm "less lethal" launcher, which enabled law enforcement personnel to take him into custody without further incident or injury to the involved individuals, Locke now faces multiple charges including Attempted Arson, Assault, Burglary, and Resisting a Law Enforcement Officer with Violence for his alleged actions during the incident.
In a public safety reminder issued after the event, officials stressed that text to 911 should only be used in specific situations. "Call if you can, text if you can’t," they advised, noting that voice calls remain the primary way to contact 911 because they provide real-time communication and allow critical information to be shared quickly, as per the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
