The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a deputy-involved shooting that occurred this afternoon at the Sunoco store at 1502 Recker Hwy, near Ave. O SW, in Winter Haven. Nobody was injured due to gunfire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At approximately 2:45 pm on Monday, June 2, 2025, PCSO deputies attempted to arrest a documented gang member who was in possession of a trafficking amount of methamphetamine in front of the Sunoco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The suspect fled in a vehicle, crashed into multiple law enforcement vehicles, and forced a deputy to the ground, injuring him in the process. A deputy fired several shots at the suspect, striking the suspect’s vehicle, but the suspect was not hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deputies apprehended the suspect about a mile away after he sideswiped another vehicle after crossing the railroad tracks on North Lake Shipp Drive. Two occupants in the other vehicle were transported to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The suspect had a blatant disregard for the safety of others. A very dangerous drug dealer is now where he belongsin the Polk County Jail. Fortunately, our deputy was not seriously injured and is expected to make a full recovery.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The suspect has been identified as 39-year old Tonyo Evans of Eagle Lake; he has an extensive criminal history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Per standard protocol, there are three investigations currently underway: an independent investigation by the 10th Judicial Circuit’s Officer-Involved Deadly Incident (OIDI) Task Force; an internal investigation by the PCSO Administrative Investigations Unit; and all investigative findings will be forwarded to the 10th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office for their investigation and review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tentative charges against Evans include: multiple counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, trafficking in methamphetamine, fleeing to elude, and other charges.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a deputy-involved shooting that occurred this afternoon at the Sunoco store at 1502 Recker Hwy, near Ave. O SW, in Winter Haven. Nobody was injured due to gunfire. At approximately 2:45 pm on Monday, June 2, 2025, PCSO deputies attempted to arrest a documented gang member who was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":77734,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-77735","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fast-factual-free"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winterhavendaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/4429139872396839879-1.jpg?fit=2000%2C1125&ssl=1","aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t