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Cybersecurity legend John McAfee had a 'highly exaggerated' shoot-out with police when they tried to arrest him for driving under the influence

Lucy England   

Cybersecurity legend John McAfee had a 'highly exaggerated' shoot-out with police when they tried to arrest him for driving under the influence
Tech2 min read

McAfee at McAfee

Joe Raedle/Getty

McAfee in his former life as founder of cybersecurity company McAfee.

John McAfee was arrested over the weekend in Tennessee and charged with driving while under the influence and possession of a handgun while intoxicated, according to a report in local paper The Jackson Sun.

According to the cybersecurity legend himself, who posted an account of his arrest on Facebook, he ended up in a short shootout with police before running out of ammunition, surrendering, and joking with his arresting officers about how terrible his aim had been.

We haven't been able to confirm whether the shoot-out actually occurred because it hasn't been included in the police report. McAfee doesn't seem to see the gunfight as a particularly big deal, as gunfights go.

"The shootout with the police was highly exaggerated and, in fact, no one was even hit by a bullet, let alone harmed by one," he wrote.

"The Police knew me and I don't believe their hearts were truly in the shootout, as it is not included in the official report. When I ran out of ammunition, I surrendered quietly and the officers and myself had a cigarette together and joked about my bad aim."

According to an International Business Times report, McAfee could be joking about the shoot-out.

John McAfee mugshot

Henderson County Police

McAfee grins in a mugshot taken by police after his arrest on Sunday night in Henderson County, Tennessee.

In McAfee's Facebook post, which came in reply to a report on his arrest by The Register, he admitted to driving under the influence of Xanax, but blamed his doctor for not specifying that driving while under the influence of the drug could be dangerous.

"Yes, I was arrested while under the influence of Xanax. It was a brand new prescription received the same day of the arrest, and the physician neglected to warn me about driving while taking it."

"As to the weapons," McAfee continued, "I always carry them and, unless one is impaired, they are legal to possess and carry."

McAfee has tried to keep a low profile for some time, and is constantly on the move because he believes he is constantly being tracked by law enforcement. Last we heard he was reportedly living in Portland, Oregon, and occasionally blogging about security, privacy and freedom.

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