Deputy Fires on Escaping Burglary Suspect

LAKELAND | After firing two shots at fleeing burglary suspects, Polk sheriff's deputies arrested three Lakeland teens and found stolen tire rims, a laptop computer and iced oatmeal cookies, officials said.

Michael Mixon, 19, of 943 Keen Court, Lakeland, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer, accessory to burglary, grand theft and violation of probation. He also had an outstanding warrant for burglary.

Christopher Mathis, 17, of 641 Ponderosa Drive East, Lakeland, was charged with burglary, grand theft, trespassing on school grounds, and resisting arrest without violence.

Dominique Young, 19, of 3460 Swindell Road, Lakeland, was charged with burglary, grand theft, trespassing on school grounds, and resisting arrest without violence.

According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies Terra McKinnon, Dewey Addison and Nathaniel Weinreich were executing a warrant for Young at his home at 1:11 a.m. Wednesday when they noticed a green Ford Explorer drive up and park near Winston Elementary School.

The Explorer was driven by Mixon and belonged to his grandfather, reports said.

Deputies then saw two people get out of the vehicle and also saw several people inside the fenced property of the school.

Deputies shouted for everyone to stop. Two people jumped the fence and began running away. As the deputies began to run after the suspects, McKinnon and Addison saw the Explorer head west on Swindell Road, reports said.

Mixon ignored orders from Addison to stop, and intentionally drove toward Weinreich, the Sheriff's Office said.

Weinreich fired two shots at the vehicle from his .40-caliber Glock, striking it once, according to the Sheriff's Office. None of the deputies was injured.

Deputies later found the vehicle off Ohio Road in Plant City.

An investigation determined that Winston Elementary was not burglarized. Deputies think the school was used as an escape route after the group, all males and all dressed in dark clothing, burglarized a home on Mercury Drive, which runs behind the school.

Taken from the house was a laptop computer, which was recovered from the school property, along with tire rims that were being stored in the laundry room area of the residence, and some cookies.

[ Jeremy Maready can be reached at jeremy.maready@theledger.com or 863-802-7592. ]