A police chief has gone to war with the media over claims that his officers tasered an unarmed autistic man.

Local media in Florida, USA, had questioned why officers used a stun gun on the autistic suspect claiming he had been unarmed.

Now Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has warned them he is going to give them “both barrels” if they try to criticise his officers.

The row began when police tasered suspect Jaquez Johnson after neighbours reported he was standing outside with a knife.

Local newspaper Florida Today claimed Johnson – who is autistic with other mental health problems – had apparently been unarmed.

But Sheriff Ivy called them out on the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office official video channel showing police dashcam footage of Johnson allegedly holding a 12-inch long blade.

In the footage, officers repeatedly tell Johnson to drop the knife.

Eventually, one of the officers can be seen firing a taser out of shot, with Johnson reportedly falling to the ground as the dashcam footage ends.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey released a statement on Tuesday, 10th January, saying (sic): “ATTACK ME ALL YOU WANT BUT WHEN YOU ATTACK MY DEPUTIES I AM GOING TO GIVE IT BACK TO YOU WITH BOTH BARRELS!!

The sheriff, who also engaged in a lengthy rant, as can be seen in this footage, added: “It’s time for the ‘Truth To Be Told’ as I am sick and tired of the Florida Today manipulating and slanting stories in an effort to make our Deputies look unprofessional.”

He stated: “I could not be more proud of our deputies, as they did it exactly right. They followed their training and their protocol.”

But Johnson’s mother, Tiffany Johnson, said her son is a kind man who everyone knows in the neighbourhood, adding that the taser was unnecessary.

Tiffany Johnson said: “He’s afraid of the police officers now.”

She added: “When he sees a patrol car he just goes in his room and stays there until they’re gone.”