Polk County Sheriff’s Office
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Auburndale Police Department were both involved in a shooting with an armed vehicle-theft suspect Thursday evening, October 5, 2023.
The adult white male suspect was killed.
Auburndale officers were dispatched at about 11:10pm to a reported stolen 2011 KIA Sorrento from a Circle K store at Berkeley Rd and US 92.
At about 11:18 pm, a two-vehicle crash was reported on the on-ramp to eastbound Polk Parkway from US 92 west.
An APD sergeant was first on scene of the crash at about 11:23pm and determined one of the vehicles involved was the stolen Kia.
The suspect charged at and punched the sergeant, and the sergeant discharged his Taser. The suspect pulled a Taser probe out and continued to resist the officer.
A PCSO deputy arrived, as well as four other APD officers including a K9.
The suspect began threatening officers with a knife.
The K-9 engaged the suspect but he fought off the dog and aggressively approached the officers again with the knife.
At that time, four of the five APD officers and the PCSO deputy were forced to fire their firearms to end the threat. They began life-saving measures, but the suspect died at the scene.
The 10th Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Deadly Incident Task Force will conduct an investigation. Auburndale PD will investigate the vehicle theft. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit will conduct an investigation, there will be an Administrative Investigation, and the Medical Examiner will do an investigation.
