A bizarre incident in Polk County, Florida, ended in tragedy after a man survived swimming across an alligator-infested lake.
But the alligators were the least of his worries.
And a Florida man had a shocking confrontation with deputies after surviving a gator attack.
Timothy Schultz, 42, was shot and killed by Polk County deputies on Monday after a chaotic series of events that left even veteran Sheriff Grady Judd stunned.
“This is crazy stuff. You can’t make it up,” Judd said at a news conference.
The chain of events began early Monday morning when a clerk at a Racetrack convenience store on Highway 37 called 911 to report Schultz acting “bizarre” in the store.
Deputies searched for Schultz for over 40 minutes before receiving another call about a man swimming in a lake known to be infested with alligators.
Witnesses reported trying to help the distressed swimmer.
One woman attempted to throw Schultz a life preserver, while another witness who offered assistance said Schultz merely “growled” in response.
What happened next defies belief.
Despite apparently being bitten by an alligator during his swim, Schultz emerged from the water and continued what Sheriff Judd described as a “rampage.”
“He swam a long way across this lake and the fact that he was bitten by an alligator, significantly, and continued this rampage is shocking,” Judd stated.
After crossing the lake, Schultz entered a gated community where residents reported he was trying to break a car window with a brick.
When deputies confronted him, they found Schultz armed with garden shears.
According to Sheriff Judd, Schultz charged at deputies while wielding the shears.
Deputies attempted to subdue him with a Taser, but it “didn’t have any effect on him,” according to Judd.
The situation escalated further when Schultz reportedly tried to enter a patrol car to access a rifle inside.
At this point, deputies opened fire, fatally shooting Schultz.
Sheriff Judd noted that Schultz had a lengthy criminal history, including several arrests for methamphetamine.
He had been released from jail last Tuesday after being arrested for possession of meth, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
“But if you’re on enough meth, then the person you see is not the person that’s attacking,” Judd said, suggesting drug use may have played a role in Schultz’s erratic behavior.
The deputies involved have been placed on routine administrative leave during the initial phases of the investigation, which is standard procedure following officer-involved shootings.
This incident highlights the unpredictable situations law enforcement officers sometimes face when dealing with individuals who may be under the influence of drugs.
The sheriff’s office posted photos to social media showing the patrol vehicle with what appeared to be multiple bullet holes through the windshield, providing visual evidence of the violent confrontation.
In Florida, alligator attacks are a known danger, but rarely do they become just one element in such a complex and tragic chain of events.
