2-Miami Men Arrested for Attempted Murder of Florida FWC Officer, $5k Reward Offered for Third Suspect

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – UPDATE: The third suspect has been arrested. Two Miami men are arrested and behind bars in the attempted murder of a Florida FWC officer in Polk County, Florida. They chose the wrong county to pull this.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the attempted murder of a Florida Fish and Wildlife Officer that occurred late Saturday night on the property line of Avon Park Bombing Range and River Ranch Hunting Club.

According to investigators, the FWC officer was patrolling the Avon Park Bombing Range when they noticed 3-people spotlighting from River Ranch into the Avon Park Bombing Range property.

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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the FWC officer stopped the individuals, on foot, for spotlighting and poaching and began an investigation. The suspects immediately began to beat the officer.

“After they beat him and hit him with the side-by-side ATV, they left him an hour deep in these woods and they didn’t care whether he survived or not,” said Judd.

The two suspects in custody after last night’s attack on the FWC Officer are:

• Michel Amalfi, 45, of 14681 NW 52 Court in Miami.
• Lazaro Milkian, 50, of 3300 NW 52dd Street in Miami.

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Judd said the officer was able to call for assistance immediately and his colleagues from FWC began to respond.

At a press conference on Sunday, Judd said over 100-law enforcement officers from several agencies were on the scene after the attack.

“You see when you attack one law enforcement officer, you have attacked all law enforcement officers. So we had in the neighborhood of 100 law enforcement officers here last night,” said Judd.

Seven agencies assisted in the investigation; FWC; Highlands and Osceola County Sheriff’s Offices; and Auburndale, Lakeland, Lake Wales, and Winter Haven Police Departments.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of the third suspect, call 888-404-FWCC (3922). Cellular phone users can also call *FWC or #FWC, or send an email tip to Tip@MyFWC.com. The FWC is offering a $5,000 reward.