AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Law enforcement shot and killed a man after he allegedly stole a car, got into a crash and threatened officers with a knife in Auburndale, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said Friday morning.
The man, who has not yet been identified, "forced" four Auburndale Police Department officers and a sheriff's office deputy to shoot the man and put an end to the conflict, according to the county agency.
Deputies say the incident began just after 11 p.m. at Circle K on Berkley Road and U.S. 92. Auburndale officers were called around 11:10 p.m. to the gas station regarding a stolen 2011 Kia Sorrento.
Minutes later, police reportedly got a report of a two-car crash nearby on the on-ramp to eastbound Polk Parkway from U.S. 92. An Auburndale sergeant was first at the crash site and quickly determined one of the cars involved was the stolen Kia.
The man accused of stealing the car reportedly charged at and punched the sergeant, leading the sergeant to discharge his Taser. The man pulled one of the Taser probes out and continued to resist arrest, the sheriff's office said.
By this time, additional officers from the Auburndale Police Department, including a K-9, and a Polk County Sheriff's deputy arrived to assist the sergeant.
The man then began threatening officers with a knife, the agency said. The K-9 was used to try to subdue him, but he reportedly was able to fight the dog off. He "aggressively" approached law enforcement again with the knife, prompting the officers and the deputy to shoot him.
Despite life-saving measures performed, the man died at the scene, deputies said.
The deadly shooting will be investigated by the 10th Judicial Circuit Officer Involved Deadly Incident Task Force. The car theft investigation will be handled by Auburndale police. The Polk County Sheriff's Office homicide unit will also conduct an investigation.