Latest news with #PolkCountySheriff
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
1 dead after RV catches fire in Lakeland
LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — One person died after their recreational vehicle (RV) caught fire on Saturday, the Polk County Fire Rescue said. Around noon, firefighters said crews were called to an RV fire on Combee Road. Crews said they found the RV fully engulfed in flames, with someone trapped inside. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames, but could not save the person inside. The person who died was not identified. No one else was hurt in the fire. The fire is being investigated by the Florida State Fire Marshal's Office and the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Florida man was bitten by alligator in lake then shot by deputies, sheriff says
A Florida man was shot and killed by sheriff's deputies after he was bitten by an alligator during an early morning dip in a lake, then threatened the officers with garden shears as he attempted to enter their patrol vehicle, the sheriff said. Photos posted to social media by deputies in Polk county showed the aftermath of Monday's fatal, exceptionally chaotic events in Lakeland that ended with Timothy Schulz, 42, dead in what Grady Judd, the sheriff, called a 'rampage'. The images showed the officers' vehicle with a shattered windshield from multiple gunshots – and the shears on the passenger seat surrounded by shards of broken glass. Schulz received a bite on his right arm during his swim at a gated community lake with several alligators, Judd told a press conference, reported by CBS News. He was believed to be high on methamphetamine, the sheriff added. Deputies were earlier called to a nearby convenience store by a worker who reported a man acting strangely, shaking, and asking to call his son – but the person had disappeared by the time the members of the sheriff's office arrived. Judd said that about two hours later, at 7:43am, residents of the gated community called to report he was in the lake. He then emerged with a bloodied arm, picked up the shears that a neighbor had left in their yard, and attempted to smash a car window with a brick. When deputies arrived for the second time, Judd said, Schulz charged their vehicle while waving the shears, and tried to snatch their weapons, forcing them to fire. 'This is just crazy stuff, OK? You know that it's got to be true – you can't make it up,' said Judd, who added that his officers had twice tried to subdue the suspect with a stun gun. 'The fact that he was bitten by an alligator, significantly, and still continued his rampage is shocking,' Judd remarked. 'But if you're on enough meth, then the person you see is not the person that's attacking.' Neither of the responding officers was injured. Schulz has a history of drug-related arrests and was released on 20 May from a prison sentence for the possession of meth, the sheriff's office said in a social media post.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Man bit by ALLIGATOR is shot dead by cops during wild, drug-fueled rampage
A Florida man was shot dead by police moments after he emerged from alligator-infested waters while suffering from an apparent bite. Timothy Schulz, 42, charged at two sheriff's deputies with gardening shears, diving into the patrol car and trying to access a gun in the moments before he was shot. Schulz was known to authorities and faced methamphetamine charges just a week ago. On Monday morning, authorities responded to a call about Schulz behavior. The caller revealed he was at a racetrack, shaking and asking to call his son. Almost two hours later another witness spotted Schulz in Lakeland, south of Orlando. He was submerged in a lake known to be home to 'a lot' of alligators. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told reporters on Monday: 'The fact that he was bitten by an alligator and still continued his rampage is shocking. 'But if you're on enough meth, then the person you see is not the person that's attacking,' he added, according to CBS. The witness had attempted to pass Schulz a life vest while he was in the lake, but he refused to take it. He tried to climb inside the passenger side of the patrol car still holding the gardening shears (left) and making an effort to get his hands on the officers' gun Another witness told authorities he 'growled' when approached. He was treading water with just his head visible, but at one stage the witnesses reported seeing an alligator approach and bite his arm. After he emerged from the water, Schulz managed to obtain gardening shears, and was seen stalking a residential area holding them in his hands. He threw a brick at a truck, Judd added. When he noticed authorities, he charged at them with the shears, ignoring repeated warnings to drop the weapon. Per department policy, the deputies involved will now be placed on administrative leave pending a state investigation into the shooting Initially, he was fired upon using a stun gun, but it had little effect, authorities said. He then tried to climb inside the passenger side of the patrol car, making an effort to get his hands on the officers' gun. 'At that time our deputies shot multiple times,' Judd said. 'As a result, Timothy is deceased.' Per department policy, the deputies involved will now be placed on administrative leave pending a state investigation into the shooting.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Deputies fatally shoot Florida man who survived apparent gator attack and tried to steal their gun, sheriff says
A Florida man who was apparently bitten while swimming in alligator-infested waters Monday morning was fatally shot after, officials said, he emerged from the lake and charged at sheriff's deputies with garden shears. Two deputies, including a trainee, opened fire on Timothy Schulz, 42, after they deployed a stun gun that appeared to have no effect and after Schulz tried to remove a firearm from their patrol cruiser, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told reporters. 'The fact that he was bitten by an alligator and still continued his rampage is shocking,' Judd said. Authorities first responded to a call involving Schulz at 5:56 a.m., when he appeared at a racetrack shaking and asking to call his son, Judd said. Deputies who responded to the area could not find him, the sheriff said. Nearly two hours later, a witness spotted Schulz in Lakeland, south of Orlando, and reported that the man was in a lake with 'a lot' of alligators, Judd said. 'A witness actually took a life vest and tried to give it to him,' he said. 'He wouldn't take it.' Another witness told authorities that Schulz growled when the person tried talking to him. The witnesses reported that Schulz was treading water and that they could see only his head. At one point, an alligator appeared to bite his right arm, Judd said. After he emerged from the lake, Schulz was seen walking between houses in a residential area, carrying a pair of garden shears. At one point he threw a brick at a truck, Judd said. As deputies arrived, Judd said, they saw Schulz apparently trying to break into a vehicle and quickly got out of their cruiser. When Schulz charged at them with the shears, Judd said, they ordered him to drop the tool, then deployed the stun gun when he did not. Schulz climbed into the passenger side of the deputies' patrol vehicle and appeared to try and remove a rifle or shotgun, Judd said. "At that time our deputies shot multiple times," Judd said. "As a result, Timothy is deceased." He said the deputies will remain on administrative leave while the state's attorney's office reviews the shooting, per department policy. Judd said Schulz has faced several methamphetamine charges and was released from county jail most recently on May 20. An affidavit in that case says a deputy found a glass pipe in a backpack Schulz was carrying that tested positive for the drug. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Car show supports Polk County Public Safety Cadet Program activities
DES MOINES, Iowa — Those interested in classic cars got to see quite a spread while supporting the Polk County Sheriff's Public Safety Cadet Program. The Public Safety Cadet Program is a group for young adults ages 14-20 who are interested in learning more about the public safety profession. Saturday's car show is in its fourth year, and it's a way to show off some cool rides while raising money for the program. Motorcycle crashes, fatalities down in Des Moines, DMPD reports 'It really gives the kids a chance to interact with the community and also gives them a chance to see some of the fruits of their labor. They're the ones that put it together, they get to see all these cars coming in and it makes them very proud, and it makes me very proud to see the job that they do,' said Kevin Schneider, Polk County Sheriff. While the car show is for a good cause, it's a fun opportunity for car enthusiast to share their hard work and vintage rides. 'Well, I have a lot of fun with it, as you can see it's set up a little differently than most people. I actually let kids climb in the car, turn on the light and siren and play with it. The police bears in front of the car attract people and get them excited about coming to a car show,' said Dan Losada, who showed of his vintage police car at the show. Saturday's car show is just one of several events the Public Safety Cadets Organization holds. Other events include a leadership development academy, a national competitive training conference, and a marksmanship and career skills competition. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
