POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A man is dead after a SWAT standoff shut down traffic on Rockridge Road near U.S. Highway 98, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd shared in a press conference Wednesday.
The suspect, Thomas England, 40, had 16 previous criminal charges related to armed burglary, domestic violence, drug possession and other felonies, according to Judd.
"This guy is a problem," Judd said during Wednesday's conference.
The standoff began around 2:30 a.m. after England went to his next store neighbor to borrow a light for a smoke, Judd said. An argument between England and his neighbor soon escalated into the suspect taking out a shotgun and firing into his neighbor's house, Judd said.
Members of England's families were called out by deputies before he barricaded himself inside.
"We know he has an arsenal in there. We know he has a sawed-off shotgun. We know he's already fired a shot into his neighbor's home, so he's now wanted for more serious felony charges," Judd said.
Deputies were eventually able to enter the home before finding England dead. The sheriff's office saw no indication that England had shot himself but rather signs that he apparently overdosed, according to Judd.
This reportedly isn't England's first standoff with Polk County deputies, as Judd highlighted a particular instance back in 2018.
"We had to get him out of the house once before, and at that time, he said 'Well, tell Grady he better bring his tank and his helicopter because I'm going to take the kids with me when I go,'" Judd said.
