POLK COUNTY, Fla. – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has charged Cheryl Lynn Williams with 13 felonies in the death of Deputy Sheriff Blane Lane, who died in the line of duty on October 4, 2022.
The charges include:
- Second degree murder of a law enforcement officer (F1)
- 3 counts aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer (F2)
- 3 counts possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (F2)
- 3 counts resisting arrest (F2)
- 2 counts possession of ammunition by a convicted felon (F2)
- Possession of methamphetamine (F3)
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of 21-year-old Deputy Sheriff Blane Lane, who died in the line of duty on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, during a deputy-involved shooting.
According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, at 2:07 a.m. on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office received a Heartland Crime Stoppers tip that Cheryl Lynn Williams, 46, who had an outstanding felony warrant for failure to appear on a possession of methamphetamine charge was at 4345 Foxtown South in Polk City.
Sergeant Michael Brooks, and Deputies Johnny Holsonback III, Adam Pennell, and Blane Lane arrived at the scene, and at 3:08 a.m., they advised that shots were fired.
According to deputies, the first witness at the trailer home told the deputies when they arrived at the front door that Williams was at the back door.
The second witness who was at the back door told them, “She’s in here” and all of the deputies except Lane went inside.
Deputy Lane took up a tactical position outside the trailer near the front side. Lane’s tactical position afforded him the view of the door and windows to ensure that he would see the suspect in the event she tried to flee.
The deputies approached a “gaming” room and initially did not see anyone in the room. Williams then stepped into view armed with a silver handgun which she immediately pointed at them. Shots were fired and the suspect went down.
Lane then reported that he had been shot in his arm. He was transported to LRHMC. Williams was also transported to a local hospital to be treated for multiple gunshot wounds. She is in stable condition.
Deputies interviewed the second witness after-the-fact, who told them that when Williams realized the deputies were there, she picked up the handgun and walked away from him. He told her, “You don’t want to do that,” and she replied, “Let them in.”
Deputy Lane, 21 years old, was shot in the left arm, and the round entered his chest.
As a result, he died at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.
The handgun turned out to be a very realistic-looking BB gun, according to Judd.
According to the early investigation, it appears that both Sergeant Brooks and Deputy Holsonback fired their agency-issued firearms. The round that struck Lane came from one of their firearms.
“When deputies arrived at this residence following up on a Crime Stoppers tip that Cheryl Williams was there with an active warrant, they gave her every opportunity to turn herself in. She made the choice to hide, and then to jump out while pointing a gun at them. Everyone in that house is a convicted felon with a criminal history, but all they had to do was cooperate, and this tragedy would never have occurred. Cheryl Williams would have been taken into custody peacefully, and would solely be facing her original failure to appear charge. Now she is responsible for the death of Deputy Lane, a young man who had his entire life ahead of him, eager to serve the people of Polk County while making a positive difference as a law enforcement officer,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Deputy Sheriff Blane Lane was 21 years old and lived in Fort Meade. He entered the Polk State College KCTIPS dual law enforcement-detention academy in September 2020, graduated, and was hired as a Detention Deputy in May 2021.
Lane went to Mulberry High School, where he played football and golf. He was the father of at least one child, although he’s seen in several photographs holding two very small children.
Lane became a Deputy Sheriff in January 2022 and was assigned to Northwest District Patrol.
Visit Tampafp.com for Politics, Sports, and National Headlines. Support journalism by clicking here to our GiveSendGo or sign up for our free newsletter by clicking here.
Android Users, Click Here To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook Here Or Twitter Here.
Copyright 2022 The Free Press, LLC, tampafp.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.