One of two Polk County deputies who were injured during a shooting in late April walked into the sheriff’s office Wednesday night with his badge on his chest and ready to return to duty.
Deputy Sheriff Craig Smith and his supervisor, Lt. Chad Anderson, were both shot multiple times while responding to a trespassing call on the night of April 27 in north Lakeland.
Sheriff Grady Judd identified the suspect as a Moorish sovereign citizen who went by the name Kmac El Bey. According to the sheriff, El Bey refused to cooperate with deputies after they found him in a car at a park after hours.
The car eventually started rolling and deputies reportedly grabbed the window. That’s when authorities said El Bey fired five shots, striking Smith twice in the arm, and Anderson near his heart.
“By the grace of God, our deputies did not perish and were able to eliminate the suspect before he shot or killed anyone else,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a social media post. “They both had critical injuries, extensive surgeries, and a whole lot of physical therapy.”
The sheriff’s office said Anderson, who was inches away from being paralyzed or killed, was still in recovery Wednesday, but deputies have been looking forward to the day he “gets back to serving and protecting the people of Polk County.”
His partner received a warm welcome Wednesday as he returned to full duty with his shift in the Northwest District Charlie Platoon.
Smith and his colleagues shared prayers and a meal, with Smith thanking them for their support and stating that he’s “happy to be back.”