POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A suspect was killed and a Polk County Sheriff’s Office K-9 was critically injured during a deputy-involved shooting Thursday evening off Rushing Road in the Kathleen area.
The suspect was identified by authorities as Angel Bowers. According to Sheriff Grady Judd, Bowers failed to appear in court Monday on a charge of unlawful sex with a minor, prompting an arrest warrant.
A bail bondsman tracked Bowers to a tent in the woods on Thursday morning, and deputies, including a K-9 unit, arrived to assist.
When deputies approached the tent shortly after 6:15 p.m., Bowers opened fire from inside, and deputies returned fire. Bowers was pulled from the tent and pronounced dead by medics at the scene. No deputies were injured in the exchange.
The injured dog, a 7-year-old K-9 named Ace, suffered a gunshot wound to his front leg and nearly bled out before receiving medical treatment. Ace underwent surgery at a local emergency veterinary clinic on Thursday night and is being airlifted to an advanced care facility.
Sheriff Judd credited the K-9 with saving the lives of the responding deputies. “Ace was shot protecting not only his handler but the other deputies that arrived,” Judd said, adding that Bowers “got exactly what he asked for” during the confrontation.
The 10th Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Deadly Incident task force is conducting an active investigation into the shooting.
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