C.J. Gish
A Blue Alert suspect was killed during a Steinhatchee home invasion on Tuesday.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) issued a Blue Alert Tuesday night after Gregory Ryan Miedema, 33, allegedly shot Taylor County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) deputy Troy Anderson during a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 19 South six miles outside of Salem around 10 p.m.
Taylor County Sheriff A.J. “Tony” Smith posted on his Facebook page that Anderson was shot three times and flown by helicopter to UF Shands Hospital where he is being treated for gunshot wounds to his jaw, neck and hand.
Tallahassee TV station WCTV reported Wednesday Miedema was allegedly killed when he broke into a Steinhatchee home. The Steinhatchee homeowner exchanged gunfire with the suspect, according to a TCSO report.
The Florida Blue Alert was issued shortly before midnight and FDLE ended the alert on Twitter Wednesday at 9:34 a.m.
The Blue Alert system was started in 2011 and is activated when a member of law enforcement is hurt, killed or missing while on duty.
Two recent Blue Alerts were issued in September when Patrick McDowell was arrested for shooting and killing a Nassau County Sheriff’s deputy and on June 24, 2021, when Othal Wallace allegedly shot a Daytona Beach police officer. Wallace was later located in Atlanta, but Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies found his car in Gainesville.