POLK CITY, Fla. — Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the deputy who was shot and killed while serving a felony warrant early Tuesday morning appears to have been shot by another member of the Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO).
PCSO said that Sergeant Michael Brooks and Deputies Johnny Holsonback III, Adam Pennell and Blane Lane arrived at a trailer on Foxtown South in Polk City around 3 a.m. to serve Cheryl Lynn Williams, 46, a warrant.
Williams had an outstanding felony warrant for failure to appear on a possession of methamphetamine charge.
All deputies except for Lane, who was taking up a tactical position outside, went inside the trailer. Williams, according to PCSO, stepped into view of the deputies and pointed a silver handgun at them, which later turned out to be a realistic-looking BB gun.
According to PCSO, Sergeant Brooks and Deputy Holsonback fired at Williams when she stepped into view, and she went down.
Lane then reported he had been shot. It was later stated by PCSO that the round that struck Lane appeared to come from either Brooks or Holsonback's firearm.
Williams sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to a local hospital, where she was in stable condition.
Lane was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, where he passed away.
“He went out simply to serve a warrant. Something we do hundreds of times a day and this time there was a horrible, horrible, horrible ending to this,” Judd said.
Deputy Lane was 21 and had only been with the department for a "short period of time," Judd said.
Justin Stewart, the lead pastor at Together Church in Lakeland, said the family is asking for privacy to mourn at this time and said they appreciate the thoughts and prayers.
Stewart said Lane wanted to be the next sheriff of Polk County and described him as "one of the most enthusiastic young men I've ever met."
"He was made for this job," Stewart said, adding. "He was the epitome of the perfect law enforcement agent."
A procession took place Tuesday morning to transport Lane from the hospital to the Medical Examiner's Office.
Judd said this is the first case where the officer-involved shooting team from the 10th Judicial Circuit is involved.
PCSO announced on Wednesday that Williams was arrested and charged with the following after being released from the hospital:
- Second degree murder of a law enforcement officer (F1)
- 3 counts aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer (F2)
- 3 counts possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (F2)
- 3 counts resisting arrest (F2)
- 2 counts possession of ammunition by a convicted felon (F2)
- Possession of methamphetamine (F3)
In addition to Williams, two men who also lived in the trailer were arrested. Donald Mathis, 72, and Joseph Larry Albritton, Jr., 55, were charged with:
- 3 counts possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (F3)
- 5 counts possession of ammunition by a convicted felon (F5),
Albritton was also charged with violation of probation. Mathis was additionally charged with possession of meth (F3) and possession of paraphernalia (M1).
