Inside look at ‘Polk County: Blane Lane 21-Year-Old Sheriff’s Shot Dead By Other Cop While Serving Warrant’ Another police officer likely fatally shot Polk County police officer Blane Lane in the chest as they served an arrest warrant, according to Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Polk County: Blane Lane 21-Year-Old Sheriff’s Shot Dead By Other Cop While Serving Warrant
A Polk County sheriff’s deputy was killed early Tuesday morning in Polk City when fellow deputies opened fire on a suspect who pointed a weapon at them.
“Words can’t adequately express the amount of grief we feel,” Sheriff Grady Judd said at an afternoon news conference.
Deputy Blane Lane, 21, was one of four deputies sent to 4345 Foxtown South in Polk City at about 3 a.m. Tuesday to serve a warrant for Cheryl Lynn Williams, 46. Williams had a warrant for failure to appear on a felony methamphetamine charge, and Judd said the Sheriff’s Office received a Crimestoppers tip at 2 a.m. that she was at the residence.
What Led To Blane Lane Death
Judd said when the deputies arrived, they knocked on the door and two men told them Williams was around back. When the deputies went to the back, another man confirmed Williams was there and allowed them in. While Sgt. Michael Brooks and deputies Johnny Holsonback III and Adam Pennell went into the back of the house, Judd said Lane took a tactical position at the front of the residence in case Williams attempted to flee.
“He’s angled so he can see the front door, he can see a set of windows and he’s where the suspects inside can’t see him,” Judd said, adding that Lane was positioned near two old refrigerators in case he needed to take cover.
While the deputies were searching the house, Judd said Williams stepped into view with a silver handgun and pointed it at the deputies. Brooks and Holsonback fired six bullets, striking Williams twice.
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At that time, Lane reported he’d been struck in the arm. He was taken to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, where it was determined the bullet that hit him in the arm also entered his chest through the side. He died at the hospital.
Williams also was taken to a local hospital for multiple gunshot wounds and was in stable condition Tuesday afternoon.
Williams’ weapon turned out to be a realistic-looking BB gun, and a bullet from one of the deputies struck Lane.
Judd said Williams will be charged with felony second-degree murder when she’s released from the hospital.
Judd said Lane was an excellent deputy.
“He was eager, he was brilliant. He learned, he absorbed information like a sponge. And he was careful when he did his job,” Judd said.
Police officers and family members Tuesday helped Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy Blane Lane, 21, get into an ambulance at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.
In September 2020, Lane enrolled in the police academy, and in May 2021, he was sworn in as a jail deputy. He was appointed a deputy in the patrol division in January.
Girl, age 3, whose father Lane was. He attended Mulberry High and participated in golf and football there.
About 8:30 a.m., a procession of police cars and a sheriff’s helicopter escorted Lane’s body from LRHMC to the medical examiner’s office off of Winter Lake Road in Winter Haven.
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