A man, who Polk County Sheriff’s deputies said, carried out a string of burglaries in the north Lakeland area was shot and killed by investigators after he pointed a handgun at the deputies and refused to surrender.
Just after midnight on Tuesday, deputies received information that the suspect, later identified as 29-year-old Eric Terrell Bradwell, was in the area of the 3200 block of Crutchfield Road.
Responding to the area, deputies located Bradwell’s vehicle, a gold 1996 Lincoln Town Car, backed into a vacant lot.
Deputies then saw a man, dressed in all black and black stocking cap on his head and a camouflage bandanna around his neck, walking east down Crutchfield Road. The man walked directly toward two deputies parked in a surveillance vehicle, walked around the car and headed back west.
Deputies said, they saw a black handgun in Bradwell’s hand, immediately exited their vehicle and approached him, demanding that he drop his weapon and surrender.
According to investigators, Bradwell pointed the handgun at the deputies and ran.
Three more deputies in the area who were doing surveillance confronted Bradwell and demanded that he drop the weapon. Again, Bradwell, continued to flee in the direction of a wooded area.
Five deputies opened fire, shooting 15 bullets between them.
Bradwell was pronounced dead on the scene. The handgun, a stolen Taurus 9 mm, was located on the ground near the suspect.
Bradwell is suspected of committing seven home invasions, including on Chestnut Road, Old Highway 37, North Wabash Avenue, Kathleen Road, Galloway Road, Sutton Road, Deeson Road, one stolen vehicle and one occupied burglary.
The deputies involved in the shooting are: 29-year-old Sam Bunch (8 years with the agency); 28-year-old Christopher Diaz (2 years with the agency); 31-year-old Troy Lung (7 years with the agency); 36-year-old Shawnee McCawley (10 years with the agency); and 31-year-old Steven Valk (6 years with the agency). All of the deputies are currently assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division.
Deputies said that the investigation is ongoing.
