Sovereign citizen dies in gunfight after shooting 2 Polk County deputies, sheriff says

Two Polk County deputies are in the ICU after being shot early Saturday by a man who Sheriff Grady Judd said was a sovereign citizen that was killed when backup deputies returned fire.

Around 12:22 a.m., a deputy assigned to Hunt Fountain Park due to its designation as a burglary hotspot noticed a vehicle there despite the park’s 10 p.m. closing time, Judd said at a news conference Saturday morning. The deputy approached the vehicle and spoke with the man inside, asking him why he was in the park, yet the sheriff said he wouldn’t cooperate.

“At this point, he’s resisting a law enforcement officer in the performance of their duty. He’s also violating a county ordinance,” Judd said. “She retreats to her vehicle and she asks for additional backup because he is resisting her. At that time, among other deputies, Lt. Chad Anderson arrives, and Deputy Sheriff Craig Smith.”

Judd said there were a total of four deputies and two trainees working the scene when the shooting occurred.

Read more: WKMG (Orlando, FL)