Man held under Baker Act after Brandon Mall incident

BRANDON — An incident at the Westfield Brandon Mall resulted in multiple unfounded 911 calls reporting a shooting, and a man was held under the state's Baker Act because of his erratic behavior and drug possession, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Reports state that just before 7:30 p.m. on May 21 HCSO began receiving 911 calls regarding possible gunshots at the mall, 459 Brandon Town Center Drive, and multiple units responded.

As deputies investigated, it was determined that 42-year-old Dustin Wendell Smith jumped from the second floor of a two-story carousel located inside the mall, landing on the first floor of the carousel. Reports state Smith began shouting indiscernible phrases and frightening other mall patrons, causing them to run from the area. The commotion led some of the nearby stores to close their storefront security gates quickly, reports state, and it is believed that the sound of the gates closing may have been mistaken for the sound of gunfire.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

Smith was held under Florida's Baker Act, which allows a person to be committed to a mental health treatment center for up to 72 hours if they display certain violent or suicidal signs of mental illness. The act allows time for a mental health evaluation to be performed and to de-escalate a crisis.

Reports state Smith will likely face drug charges because of cocaine found in his possession.

Brandon Mall never shut down during the incident, reports state.