Florida man pulls out 3-foot sword after deputies approach vehicle

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. — A Florida man is accused of pointing a 3-foot steel sword at deputies when they approached his vehicle, authorities said.

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Randy Lynn Austerman, 34, of North Fort Myers, was arrested Saturday and charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of not more than 20 grams of marijuana, providing a false name to law enforcement and obstructing without violence (resisting an officer), according to an arrest affidavit filed by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

On Sept. 3 at about 2:15 a.m. EDT, deputies approached a Nissan Altima after they observed it on the side of the road blocking a bicycle lane, WBBH-TV reported.

According to the affidavit, filed by Deputy Nicholas Scaduto, deputies found a man reclining in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. The man told deputies he was out of gasoline and pointed to a gas can in the vehicle. According to the affidavit, Austerman told deputies his name was Joshua James Combs.

However, deputies ran a check and determined that Austerman had given a false name, WBBH reported. Austerman then gave deputies a second false name and he was ordered to exit the vehicle, according to the television station.

When deputies attempted to remove Austerman from the car, he allegedly “pulled out a 3-foot sword,” according to the affidavit. He then pulled a “metal dragon-shaped handle” from his backpack and attached it to the blade, deputies said. Austerman allegedly pointed the sword outside one of the car windows, telling deputies, “I want to show you.”

Deputies used a stun gun to subdue Austerman and arrested him, WBBH reported.

A subsequent search of the car revealed 0.15 grams of methamphetamine, 0.63 grams of marijuana and a glass pipe, according to the affidavit.

Austerman is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 3, online records show.

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