Volusia County man cleared of charges in tree-trimming 'stand your ground' case

Man cleared of charges in 'stand your ground' case

A De Leon Springs, Florida man has been cleared of all criminal charges spanning from a stand your ground case in 2023.

DE LEON SPRINGS, Fla. - A De Leon Springs, Florida man has been cleared of all criminal charges spanning from a stand your ground case in 2023.

On Friday, December 27, a judge in Volusia County’s seventh circuit dismissed the case against Edward Druzolowski, 79.

On September 17, 2023, a dispute between Druzolowski and his Alameda Drive neighbor turned deadly. According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO), Druzolowski shot and killed Brian Ford, 42, after claiming Ford was cutting tree limbs on his property. An arrest affidavit stated Druzolowski instructed Ford multiple times to leave his property, but Ford ignored the warnings, and instead approached Druzolowski.

Ford’s mother, Linda Ford, still lives next-door to Druzolowski. Sitting just feet from his front door on Monday, she told FOX 35’s Hannah Mackenzie she is disappointed in the outcome, and feels cheated by the judicial system.

"We wanted closure, but we didn’t want this type of closure," Linda Ford said.

Ford claimed court proceedings were one-sided, and the ruling sets a dangerous precedent.

"He got away with murder, and it’s sad… it’s sad; it’s sad. There’s nothing more actually we can do. We have to live with the results, and we have to move forward from there," Ford said. "Is he going to murder again? We have no idea. We’re sitting here like sitting ducks. We could say we’re standing our ground on our own property, and we’re frightened because he’s a murderer."

Criminal defense attorney Michael Panella was not involved in the case, but said a stand your ground defense comes down to reasonableness, and whether the threat justifies deadly force.

"First of all, the decedent was armed. I think that's a huge deal. The fact that he had the capability to cause great bodily harm with a chainsaw during this altercation can’t be underscored enough", Panella said. "The other issue that came up in this case is that he had a reputation for violence."

Panella also noted the drastic age and strength differences between Ford and Druzolowski – all factors he said a judge would take into consideration when ruling on a stand your ground case.

According to the Volusia County Clerk of Courts, Ford had been arrested close to two dozen times since 2004. Some of his charges were violent offenses.

Attempts to reach Druzolowski for comment were not returned.

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