FROSTPROOF, Fla. (WFLA) — A shootout in Frostproof resulted in a suspect’s death and left a deputy seriously injured during an attempt to serve an arrest warrant.
The incident occurred on West Frostproof Baptist Church Road at around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Deputies aimed to apprehend a man for failing to pay child support. The man resisted, and deputies managed to get only one handcuff on him before the situation escalated.
During the scuffle, another man approached with a long two-by-four and struck one deputy, Draven Martin, in the back of the head.
“He struck him in the head so hard that he split his head open,” Judd said.
Deputy Martin was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. Late-night updates from Judd indicated uncertainty about whether he would require an overnight stay at the hospital.
As the suspect prepared to strike again, he was shot and killed by deputies. Judd identified the other officer involved as Sergeant Discon Collazo.
During the altercation with the second suspect, the initial suspect attempted to flee on foot.
Deputies caught up to the man and, after tasing him, were able to take him into custody and begin rendering aid to the suspect that they shot. He was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead.
Judd said the 10th Judicial Circuit Task Force will investigate the incident, which is typical for officer-involved shootings.
“It is very apparent to us that this man was trying to beat our deputies, injure our deputies, and in fact, split the head open of one of our deputies,” Judd said.
