Posted on 09/30/2006 8:09:00 PM PDT by AZRepublican
LAKELAND, Fla. - Officers fired 110 rounds of ammunition at the man suspected of killing a sheriff's deputy, according to an autopsy and records released by the sheriff's office Saturday.
Angilo Freeland — who was suspected of fatally shooting the deputy after being pulled over for speeding Thursday — was hit 68 times by the SWAT team members' shots, the examination showed.
He also was suspected of wounding a deputy and killing a police dog.
Freeland's death ended a nearly 24-hour manhunt that forced schools to lock down and families to stay indoors as about 500 officers scoured the woods.
The wounded deputy had pulled Freeland over for speeding and became suspicious of his identification. The suspect got nervous and bolted into the woods, officials said.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said he was not concerned by the number of shots fired.
"You have to understand, he had already shot and killed a deputy, he had already shot and killed a K-9 and he shot and injured another deputy," Judd said by phone Saturday. "Quite frankly, we weren't taking any chances."
Ten SWAT officers surrounded Freeland on Friday as he hid beneath brush and a fallen tree in a rural area. Authorities say he raised the gun belonging to the deputy he had killed, prompting nine officers to fire.
"I suspect the only reason 110 rounds was all that was fired was that's all the ammunition they had," Judd said. "We were not going to take any chance of him shooting back."
The SWAT officers who shot Freeland have been placed on paid administrative leave, standard procedure in all police shootings.
Also released Saturday were autopsy results for the deputy, Vernon Matthew Williams, 39, which showed he had been shot eight times. He was not wearing a protective vest, but shots hit him in his right leg and behind his right ear, among other places.
Diogi, his German shepherd police dog, was also killed. The dog had been shot once in the chest.
Authorities said deputy sheriff Doug Speirs, also 39, was fired at several times and shot once in the leg. A sergeant and an officer from the Lakeland Police Department were also fired at, authorities said.
I guess they didn't have a chance to reload.
Hell yeah!
110 rounds fired and they only hit him 68 times? These are SWAT officers? They need to get back on the range and practice till they get 110/110.
110 rounds saves a whole mess o' tax dollars litigating this scumbag.
Tough crap. If one round is justified, they all are.
Ammo was probably reaching expiration date and had to get rid of it or fire it. :)
"I suspect the only reason 110 rounds was all that was fired was that's all the ammunition they had," Judd said. "We were not going to take any chance of him shooting back."
He may have forgottten to add "Or of the SOB ever seeing the inside of a court room".
Gotta love these guys, my kinda justice!
"Quite frankly, we weren't taking any chances."
"I suspect the only reason 110 rounds was all that was fired was that's all the ammunition they had"
Except for the shots fired:hits ratio, my kind of law enforcement. No crying. No excuses.
Sounds about right. The guy was hidden and would not surrender and follow orders. They had to take him out as he was already proven a killer.
Cut 'em some slack. If the jerk was hit 68 times you know he was dancing and spinning on the way down. Pretty tough target. :)
Good enough reason for me!
I hope it was the 68th one that killed him and that he felt the burn of the other 67 as they hit him before he expired.
I think they need bigger clips!
Sounds like justice to me … play with fire and you will get your just rewards.
"Except for the shots fired:hits ratio, my kind of law enforcement. No crying. No excuses."
Imagine walking thru brush so thick you can't hardly see your own feet knowing there's a killer out there. And besides that there are a tremendous number of rattlesnakes, cotton mouths among others. This was only a few miles from where I live.
I think they done good.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.