Florida Man Shot by Deputies After Alligator Attack and Charging with Garden Shears
Polk County deputies fatally shot Timothy Shultz after he attacked them with shears following an alligator encounter and break-in attempt.
Authorities in Polk County, Florida, say a man was fatally shot by deputies after a bizarre and violent series of events that included an encounter with an alligator, attempted burglaries, and threats to law enforcement officers.
According to Sheriff Grady Judd, the incident began early Monday morning when deputies responded to reports of a man exhibiting erratic behavior at a local gas station. Witnesses described the individual—later identified as 42-year-old Timothy Shultz—as "bizarre" and "shaking," asking to call his son before leaving the scene. Deputies searched the area for about 40 minutes but were unable to locate him initially.
Shortly before 7:45 a.m., authorities received another call from a witness reporting a man in a nearby lake known for being infested with alligators. The caller expressed concern for the man's safety, speculating that he must be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. As Shultz swam across the lake, one bystander tried to offer him a life preserver, which he refused, while another reported that he growled at them before they retreated inside their home and locked the door.
When deputies arrived, they observed Shultz emerging from the water holding a set of garden shears. Witnesses say he appeared agitated and attempted to break into a vehicle by throwing a brick at it. As deputies approached, Shultz allegedly charged at them with the shears, prompting an effort to de-escalate the situation. Deputies reportedly tried to subdue him using tasers on two separate occasions, but Shultz continued to advance.
Sheriff Judd recounted that Shultz then climbed into a running patrol vehicle and tried to seize a firearm stored inside. It was at this moment that deputies opened fire, fatally wounding him. Judd defended the actions of his deputies, emphasizing that all non-lethal measures had been exhausted before lethal force was used. “He tried to assault my deputies with shears,” Judd stated. “Trying to get the rifle and or the shotgun out at that moment in time, all the warnings had to stop, and the action had to begin.”
Further investigation revealed that Shultz had suffered apparent alligator bites to his right arm during the earlier incident in the lake. Sheriff Judd noted that Shultz had an extensive criminal history, including multiple arrests related to methamphetamine, and had been released from jail less than a month prior to the incident.
Judd used the episode to comment on the dangers associated with drug abuse, saying, “There are still people that want to make the community, or the nation, believe that drugs are low level and nonviolent. Well, here’s your sign.” He emphasized the erratic and violent behavior displayed by Shultz, stating, “When you can swim across the lake, sustain apparent alligator bites, grab shears, try to break into a vehicle, attack law enforcement officers, jump into their car, try to get their rifle and shotgun…you’re out of your mind on drugs. And it’s not his first time. He’s dead.”
Closing his remarks, Sheriff Judd highlighted the risks his deputies faced and their restraint during the confrontation, adding, “Our deputies, by the way, are going home safe tonight.”
