WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd called the events of last night "a tragic ending to a sad set of circumstances."
Judd said his county deputies were forced to shoot and kill a man who pointed a shotgun at them. In the months leading up to late Tuesday, March 20, Chance Christopher Haegele was greeted many times by the sheriff's office concerning his mental health.
Dispatchers received numerous 911 calls from the 20-year-old's home in the area of Jay Drive and Thornhill Road, explained Judd during a news conference. One of the first from last night was Haegele's mother, saying she was concerned as her son threatened to kill himself and took her shotgun.
Deputies responded to the mobile home community in kind and quickly came across a disturbance; Haegele was seen fighting with mom, Judd said.
He took over the gun and ran off.
A search for him ensued until two deputies came across Haegele. Judd said he was hiding in some bushes with the shotgun. Commands were given to him to drop the weapon but instead, the sheriff said, he pointed the gun at the deputies.
They fired some 17 rounds, several of which hit Haegele. He died at the scene.
"When you look at this set of circumstances," Judd said. "(This is) the classic 'suicide by cop.' We went above and beyond ... but we weren't able to stop this unfortunate sort of events."
Last fall, deputies responded to Haegele many times when they received 911 calls or other concerning messages from friends and family asking if he could be checked out because he had talked about suicidal thoughts, Judd said. He was "Baker Acted" several times, which allow Florida deputies to take a person into protective custody if pose a threat to themselves or others.
But the person cannot be held for an indefinite amount of time. Judd said his office goes a step further to follow up and each time, Haegele told them he was on his medications and was doing OK.
The deputies involved in the shooting were not hurt.
"The deputies did everything they should have last night. I stand behind their decision," Judd said. "This is a sad ending to a troubled life."
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