Sheriff Grady Judd, Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor, and State Attorney for the 10th Judicial Circuit Brian Haas, briefed the media from the scene of a multi-jurisdictional investigation that ended in the 1500 block of Havendale Blvd. in Winter Haven today (Monday, February 6, 2023) after a pursuit and an officer-involved shooting. Here is a brief summary of Sheriff Judd’s remarks.
This afternoon, detectives from the Lakeland Police Department, the ATF, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) were conducting surveillance on a suspect in the Eagle Lake area of Polk County who, according to LPD, was involved in last week’s shooting within the city of Lakeland. The suspect, 21-year-old Alex Greene (DOB 8/16/01) also has an active PCSO warrant for burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, and trespass/larceny related to utilities. While the detectives were conducting surveillance, Greene got into a white pickup truck and FDLE attempted a traffic stop, but Greene fled.
LPD pursued Greene from Eagle Lake, through Winter Haven, and then westbound down Havendale Blvd. LPD Captain Eric Harper utilized a PIT (precision immobilization technique) maneuver and stopped Greene’s truck, at which point Greene jumped out of the truck, ran into traffic on Havendale, and into the parking lot of Andrea’s Family Restaurant. Harper followed on foot. Greene then ran into a car that was sitting in the parking lot while the car’s driver, a woman, was standing outside of it talking with a friend. The car owner ran to her car and attempted to shut the doors but Greene was able to get in and drive it directly at Captain Harper, who was still yelling at Greene to stop and trying to apprehend him. Captain Harper shot six rounds into the car, but Greene continued westbound down Havendale Blvd until he crashed into a vacant building. PCSO deputies who were in the area arrived on the scene moments later, pulled Greene from the car, and performed life-saving measures. He succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
In addition to his outstanding warrant, Greene would have been charged with multiple felonies, including Fleeing to elude, Attempted murder of a LEO, Possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, Robbery and carjacking, and Resisting arrest. His criminal history includes 10 prior felonies.
The investigation is ongoing by the 10th Judicial Circuit Officer-Involved Deadly Incident Task Force.
