The Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) and Bartow Police are investigating a shooting that injured a deputy and an officer.
The incident happened near the 200 block of Van Fleet Drive in Bartow Friday night.
PCSO said a deputy and a Bartow Police officer were shot. According to officials, the deputy and the officer were taken to the hospital and are in good condition.
The suspect was also shot and has been taken to the hospital, PCSO said.
A suspect is dead and two law enforcement officers are recovering following a shooting Friday in Bartow that involved both a Bartow Police Department officer and a Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
According to officials, the deputy was shot in the arm, while the Bartow officer was struck but protected by his ballistic vest. The Bartow officer was airlifted to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, while the deputy was transported by ground. Both are in stable condition and expected to recover.
The suspect, identified as Wayne Volz, 34, was shot multiple times during the incident. Officers rendered life-saving aid at the scene before Volz was transported to Bartow Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Preliminary information indicates the incident may have stemmed from a domestic disturbance earlier in the day in Fort Meade, where Volz reportedly struck his mother in the head with the butt of a firearm and allegedly pointed the gun at her. That incident does not appear to have been immediately reported. A family member later contacted law enforcement from a business in Bartow, stating that Volz may have been in the area.
Bartow Police began searching for the suspect near the Lowe’s in Bartow and requested drone assistance. Volz was ultimately located in a nearby parking lot near Bankers Brew Coffee, where the confrontation unfolded and shots were fired.
Volz had a lengthy criminal history in both Florida and Ohio.
In Polk County, he was arrested for domestic battery in July 2019, though charges were dropped. He was also charged with petit theft in December 2024.
In Ohio, Volz’s record includes unauthorized use of property in 2008, and multiple charges in 2011 including disorderly conduct, noise disturbance, domestic violence, and unlawful restraint. He was also charged with assault in 2015.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is now leading the investigation, which is standard in cases involving the use of force by law enforcement.
Officials held a press conference Friday evening to share preliminary findings. They confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public.