POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Almost exactly six months after two Polk County deputies were "ambushed" and shot by a sovereign citizen, one is back on the job.
Deputy Craig Smith and Lieutenant Chad Anderson both suffered serious injuries and are alive "by the grace of God," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in the days after the shooting.
On Wednesday, Oct. 30, Smith returned to full duty and celebrated with his platoon with "some prayers and a meal," the sheriff's office said on Facebook. Anderson is still recovering, and the agency says "we look forward to the day he too gets back to serving and protecting the people of Polk County."
Flashing back, it all started around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, April 27, in Lakeland's Hunt Fountain Park. A deputy was patrolling the area, which had seen reports of teen burglaries around that time, when she saw a man sitting in a white Mercedes Benz and asked him why he was there. He reportedly refused to respond or get out of the car.
Judd said at the time the man, identified as a 26-year-old Moorish Sovereign Citizen who went by the name Kmac El Bey, was "dressed in all white as if he were in some kind of religious or cult garb."
The deputy called for backup, and seven deputies, including Anderson and Smith responded. The two deputies approached El Bey's, whose given name was Kyran Caples, car and he tried to drive away.
As El Bey did, the deputies grabbed the car window. It was then El Bey started shooting, Judd said.
Anderson was shot in his left arm, and the bullet went into his chest cavity, lodging between his heart and spinal column. Judd said Anderson was "fractions of an inch" away from being paralyzed or killed.
Smith was shot twice in his right arm.
Other responding deputies returned fire, ultimately killing El Bey.
Both Smith and Anderson underwent multiple, "extensive" surgeries for their critical injuries as well as a "whole lot of physical therapy."
