A Florida sheriff says a 32-year-old fugitive is dead following an exchange of gunfire with detectives.
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“The four deputies fired about 28 times, hitting Perry at least five times, according to Judd”.
The officers at the scene performed CPR on Perry, and he had emergency surgery at a nearby hospital, according to the station.
Winter Haven Police Chief Charlie Bird said the officers were in a very unsafe situation.
Because Perry had a history of violent felonies and resisting arrest, the officers chose not to flash their lights but instead followed Perry until he stopped.
The windows were so dark in the now bullet riddled Dodge Charger that Judd says the responding officers never knew what they were up against until bullets started flying.
One of the officers returned to his vehicle to retrieve a “hooligan tool”, Judd said, and approached the driver’s side window. Officers returned fire and “neutralized” the suspect inside. It appears Perry was firing rounds from what Judd said was a stolen gun. “He was full of holes”, Judd said at a news conference Thursday.
Records show Perry was arrested 20 times in as many years, starting with a shoplifting charge when he was 10.
Judd said the detectives found thousands of dollars worth of meth in the auto. Perry’s last registered address is 272 18th St. NE, Winter Haven.
Polk deputies, Lakes Wales Police Department officers, Haines City Police Department officers and Winter Haven Police Department officers together approached the suspect’s auto, according to the sheriff’s office.
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The involved officers will be placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol. The four officers represented each of the agencies, Judd said. Investigations of the shooting will be conducted by the Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office and the Medical Examiner’s Office, Judd said. The sheriff said a detective finally smashed a window, and they saw him reach for a Glock 9 mm handgun and fire at two detectives standing outside the passenger door.
