LAKELAND, Fla. – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Friday arrested a suspect accused of shooting at deputies after a car chase.
No deputies were injured in the shooting, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
"What we had here this morning was a total disregard for the law," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. "He was wild, he was out of control."
The suspect, Joshua Imhoff, is at the Lakeland Regional Medical Center having surgery from multiple gunshot wounds, according to Judd.
"When he shoots at us, we shoot at him," Judd said.
The sheriff’s office is not searching for any other suspects. The shooting happened around 5:52 a.m. Friday on Highway 33 near Combee Road.
Highway 33, which is also known as Highlands Boulevard, is closed at Combee Road and University Boulevard.
Deputies initially responded to a call about an ex-boyfriend threatening a woman's life around 4:23 a.m. Friday, Judd said. Imhoff, 32, showed up to his ex-girlfriend's house, ran from and eventually shot at deputies.
The woman said Imhoff sent her a picture of a gun on Facebook and asked, "How messy do you think this will be?"
Judd said Imhoff also threatened law enforcement, claiming he was prepared to die.
Imhoff was armed with two knives, Judd said.
Imhoff is a convicted felon. He also has 12 felony arrests, Judd said.
"At the end of the day, we don't choose to shoot people, they choose for us to shoot them," Judd said. "He chose for us to shoot him, and that's exactly what we did."
While at the residence near Interstate 4 and U.S. Highway 27, Judd said the deputies saw Imhoff and attempted a traffic stop. The suspect ran and headed towards Polk City.
"We try to stop the car, which pushes {it} over off of the road and he shoots, and we eventually ram the car off of the road," Judd said.
Judd said Imhoff left his car and exchanged gunfire with deputies.
Deputies hit Imhoff with the side of a cruiser, Judd said. Imhoff approached deputies with a knife before his arrest, according to Judd.
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