LAKELAND, Fla. – Two Polk County deputies were wounded in a shootout with a lone gunman early on a Saturday morning. The deputies were hospitalized after the incident, which unfolded at Hunt Fountain Park around 12:22 a.m.
Sheriff Grady Judd detailed that the confrontation began when a deputy approached a vehicle parked in the park after hours, and the driver refused to cooperate with the deputy’s questions. The situation escalated when the driver, later identified as a Moorish sovereign citizen, resisted the deputies’ commands.
Subsequently, additional deputies arrived at the scene to assist. During the confrontation, the suspect opened fire on the deputies, injuring Lieutenant Chad Anderson and Deputy Craig Smith. Despite being wounded, Lieutenant Anderson managed to return fire before the suspect was fatally shot by other deputies.
Both wounded deputies were transported to a hospital, where they were listed in the intensive care unit. The identity of the suspect has not been disclosed pending notification of next of kin, but it is known that he had been residing in his vehicle and was not a resident of Polk County.
Sheriff Judd emphasized that the situation could have been avoided if the suspect had cooperated with law enforcement. Instead, the suspect’s actions led to a violent altercation, resulting in tragic consequences.
The incident sheds light on the dangers law enforcement officers face during routine encounters and underscores the risks associated with individuals who resist lawful commands. The deputies’ quick response and bravery under fire highlight the challenges and threats law enforcement officers confront in the line of duty.