Dixie County man arrested after shooting at neighbor, bomb squad called to property due to tunnels

OLD TOWN, Fla. (WCJB) — Dixie County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 61-year-old man and called in the bomb squad Thursday night after a dispute over a neighbor’s dog escalated into a shooting.

Authorities from multiple agencies responded to Southeast 455th Avenue in Old Town, where they arrested James Herring, 61. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT assisted, using a drone to help locate Herring. No one was hurt.

According to Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler, the incident began when a neighbor approached Herring about his dogs being on her property.

“We had a call come into dispatch at this residence behind me, that the neighbor made contact with Mr. Herring about his dogs on the neighbor’s property,” Butler said. “During a conversation, Mr. Herring got very violent really quickly, according to the neighbor. And pulled out a long rifle and shot at the neighbor.”

Deputies discovered underground tunnels and bunker-style holes on the property. Out of a fear of possible boobytraps, deputies kept their distance and called in the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad to clear the area.

Officials said no explosives were found after a search on Friday; however, they did locate a rifle and ammunition.

RELATED: Dixie County man arrested after SWAT incident in Old Town

Herring was charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His bond was set at $200,000. The investigation remains ongoing as of this report.

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