News and Investigations

The Polk County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that occurred on 16th Street NE in Winter Haven Tuesday, September 25, 2018 at around 10:35 P.M., during which a 25-year-old woman who was armed with a knife was shot once by a deputy. No deputies were injured.

The woman was identified as Lindsay Erin Collins of Kissimmee. She was transported to the hospital with a gunshot wound to her torso and is listed in critical but stable condition.

"Domestic violence calls are one of the most dangerous we respond to. The suspect said she was coming to the house to kill, and that's exactly what she tried to do. Fortunately for the two men at the house, our deputy arrived and did exactly what he had to in order to protect the victim and himself." - Grady Judd, Sheriff.

Preliminary information is as follows:

Deputies were dispatched at 10:28 P.M. to 36-year-old Christopher Ingram's residence on 16th Street NE in reference to a disturbance complaint. Ingram said that Collins, his ex-girlfriend, was intentionally tearing up his house, damaging his vehicle, and she had sent threatening texts stating: "I'm will hunt y'all down," "I will kill her," "take her life and mine, you can watch! I don't care." Ingram also said she was bringing a knife.

At 10:35 P.M., Deputy Sheriff Lance Turley arrived on scene, and began exiting his patrol car, which was parked in front of the residence, right next to where Ingram was standing. As Turley began talking to Ingram, Collins ran out from the residence, directly towards Ingram, with her arm raised, holding a knife.

Deputy Turley, fearing for the safety of Ingram and himself, fired one shot, striking Collins. Turley immediately notified dispatch of the shooting, requested EMS, and began life-saving measures on Collins in the roadway. The time lapse from Deputy Turley arriving on-scene, until he advised dispatch of shots fired, was less than 60 seconds.

A roommate of Ingram's was home at the time and witnessed the disturbance. He told detectives that Collins was armed with a knife (with an approximately eight inch long blade), and she used it to damage Ingram's truck. The man heard Collins threaten to kill Ingram, and she chased both men with the knife. The man jumped into a boat in the back yard to hide from her. Ingram called the Sheriff's Office.

Collins' criminal history includes a 2016 arrest for battery, charged with beating another woman (received 12 months' probation), and a 2012 arrest for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

Charges pending against Collins are: Attempted 1st Degree Murder (two counts), Aggravated Assault on LEO, Armed Burglary, and Felony Criminal Mischief.

Standard protocol calls for three investigations which are currently underway: A criminal investigation into Collins' domestic violence and attempted murder charges, by the PCSO Bureau of Criminal Investigations; an internal investigation of the shooting, by the PCSO Administrative Investigations Unit to ensure all protocols were followed; and a separate investigation by the State Attorney's Office, who responded to the scene and will review the PCSO investigations and documentation once they are completed.

Deputy Sheriff Lance Turley is 30 years old, and has been with the Polk County Sheriff's Office for nine years, hired in October 2009. He is assigned to the Central District (Winter Haven and Auburndale area) in patrol.