WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (WFLA) — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that happened Monday as officials said they were trying to arrest a “documented gang member.”
Deputies said they found the suspect, Tonyo Evans, 39, of Eagle Lake, with a “trafficking amount of methamphetamine” outside a Sunoco store on Recker Highway in Winter Haven.
However, before they could arrest him, Evans got into a vehicle and fled. Authorities said Evans crashed into multiple law enforcement vehicles as he was fleeing and forced a deputy to the ground. The deputy was injured in the process but is expected to be OK.
Another deputy started firing shots at Evans, but the gunfire only hit Evans’ vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office. Evans continued driving, and after crossing the railroad tracks on North Lake Shipp Drive, officials said he sideswiped another vehicle.
Two people inside the vehicle were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Evans was eventually apprehended about a mile from the Sunoco where the incident began.
Deputies said Evans is a “documented gang member” with an “extensive criminal history.” Several charges are pending against him, including multiple counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, trafficking in methamphetamine, fleeing to elude, and more.
“The suspect had a blatant disregard for the safety of others. A very dangerous drug dealer is now where he belongs, in the Polk County Jail,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “Fortunately, our deputy was not seriously injured and is expected to make a full recovery.”
In addition to an internal investigation, the 10th Judicial Circuit’s Officer-Involved Deadly Incident (OIDI) Task Force was also independently reviewing the incident. The findings will be turned over to the State Attorney’s Office, as is standard protocol.
