Polk K-9 Critically Wounded, Suspect Dead After Deputy-Involved Shooting

LAKELAND, FL — A Polk County Sheriff's Office K-9 was critically wounded and a man wanted on felony charges was killed Thursday evening after he opened fire on deputies attempting to arrest him, authorities said.

K-9 Ace, a 7-year-old German Shepherd, suffered a gunshot wound that severed an artery in his front left leg while tracking 27-year-old Angel Bowers to a tent in a wooded area off Rushing Road, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said during a news conference.

Ace underwent emergency surgery at Parkway Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Lakeland before being airlifted by Tampa General Hospital’s Aeromed helicopter to Veterinary Medical Center at Lakewood Ranch in Bradenton.

Judd said Ace remained in critical condition Thursday night.

All other deputies involved in the shooting were uninjured.

Bowers was pronounced dead at the scene after the deputy-involved shooting. The 10th Judicial Circuit Officer-Involved Deadly Incident Task Force is investigating.

The incident stemmed from Bowers' failure to appear in court Monday on a felony charge of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, Judd said. A judge revoked his bond and issued a warrant for his arrest after he didn’t appear for a scheduled hearing.

A bail bondsman attempted to arrest Bowers Thursday morning at a home on Chartpine Road after learning the bond had been revoked. When no one answered the door, the bondsman contacted the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies responded to the home but were unable to determine whether Bowers was inside or had left the area, Judd said.

Later Thursday, the bondsman reportedly spoke with Bowers' girlfriend, who said he was staying in a tent in nearby woods behind the home. After locating what was believed to be Bowers' bicycle, the bondsman again contacted the sheriff's office.

One of Bowers' bond conditions prohibited him from living at the Chartpine Road home because children lived there, the sheriff said.

Deputy Sheriff Natalie Oestreich and K-9 Ace tracked Bowers to the campsite shortly after 6 p.m.

As deputies attempted to call Bowers out of the tent, the bondsman reported hearing multiple gunshots followed by return fire from deputies, Judd said. Ace was struck during the exchange.

"Ace was shot protecting not only his handler but the other deputies that arrived," the sheriff said. "Tonight he saved three deputies' lives."

Deputies immediately rushed Ace to the emergency veterinary clinic, where veterinarians repaired the damaged artery before preparing him for transport to the specialty veterinary hospital for advanced care.

Judd credited a recently enacted Florida law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that allows injured law enforcement K-9s to be transported by helicopter for emergency veterinary treatment. Without the law, Ace would have had to be transported by patrol vehicle, the sheriff said.

After the K-9 was shot, deputies established a perimeter around the wooded area while a SWAT team responded.

At about 8:15 p.m., SWAT team members approached the tent and found Bowers dead inside, still holding his gun. Investigators are still determining how many rounds were fired during the exchange.

"It's just the grace of God that our K-9 deputy and the other two backup deputies weren't shot and killed," Judd said.

Authorities said darkness, heavy vegetation and the remote location of the campsite complicated the investigation, and detectives are continuing to process the scene Friday.

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