News and Investigations

PCSO is investigating an officer-involved shooting at 2737 Golfview Street in Lakeland, that began when a violent convicted felon opened fire on a HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) multi-agency task force.

On Wednesday, September 7, 2016, detectives from PCSO, Haines City P.D., Lake Wales P.D., and Winter Haven P.D. all members of the HIDTA Task force, observed Perry driving a black Dodge Charger on Combee Road. Perry is known to them as a violent felon with a history of fleeing law enforcement and resisting arrest. They make the decision to follow him until he stops instead of risking a traffic stop in traffic, due to his history of fleeing law enforcement, and follow him to a residence located at 2737 Golfview Street in Lakeland (this is not Perry's home). The detectives pulled up behind him after he parked in the driveway, and activated the lights on their agency vehicle. Three detectives, wearing vests clearly marked with SHERIFF across the chest and back, approach the car.

One detective interacts with a person who was walking toward Perry's car in the driveway, and orders him to the ground - he's identified as 29-year-old William Kluge. Another detective approaches Perry's driver's side and makes contact with him, while the third detective approaches Perry's passenger side and also makes contact. The detective on the driver's side orders the dark tinted window to be rolled down, or open the door - Perry refuses to comply. The detective standing in front of the car can see Perry inside - the two detectives on the sides cannot see him very well. The detective in front orders Perry to show his hands while the other 2 detectives continue to order him to roll down the windows or open the door.

Perry alternates between showing his hands and putting them back down again to the right towards the console - this goes on several times for approximately 1.5 to 2 minutes, according to detectives' statements and the witness, Kluge. A detective retrieves a tool to smash a window and make entry into the car. He goes back to the Dodge Charger with the tool, and is joined by a fourth detective who arrives in a second car.

As they use the tool to smash out the passenger window, they see Perry reach down to the right, and come up with a handgun (Glock 9 mm), and shoot at the two detectives who are standing outside the passenger side. All four detectives then return fire - it is later determined Perry is struck at least 5 times (an autopsy will determine the exact number).

Perry continues to shoot at detectives - 5 spent shell casings are later found in his car. After Perry quits fighting, detectives remove Perry from the car and administer CPR and utilize an AED. When they pull him out of the car they see he has a nylon holster on his right hip. They perform CPR until EMS arrives. Perry was transported to an area hospital and went into emergency surgery. He was declared deceased at 6:06 a.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2016.

29-year-old Kluge is arrested for a misdemeanor Failure to Appear warrant, and continues to cooperate with this investigation.

It is standard protocol that the officers involved in the shooting will be placed on paid administrative leave. By agency policy, there will be several independent investigations related to the shooting:

• The PCSO Homicide Unit will conduct a shooting investigation
• The PCSO Administrative Investigations will conduct an internal investigation to determine compliance with agency policy
• The State Attorney's Office will conduct an independent investigation
• HIDTA members will continue with their criminal investigation into the trafficking amount of drugs
• The Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy

At the conclusion of these investigations, the reports will be forwarded to the three other involved agencies for their own internal investigations

A search warrant on the vehicle revealed:

o             Glock model 26 9mm with one live round in the chamber and an empty magazine, confirmed stolen out of Pasco County          

o             5 spent shell casings

o             2 bags containing Meth totaling 180 grams/6 ounces - a trafficking amount with a street value of $5,400

o             A cell phone

o             Perry's FL identification card 

Perry's Criminal History started at 10 years old with a shoplifting charge and a weapons charge at 11 years old. He has 20 total prior arrests during 20-year time span; 14 as an adult, 6 as a juvenile. He has 33 prior felony charges, and 19 prior misdemeanor charges. He's been to state prison 3 times, in 2005, 2012, and 2015. Perry has an active warrant for his arrest as a fugitive from justice for violating the terms of his conditional release from prison. In 2014 he was sentenced to 1.5 years in state prison for Meth Possession & Aggravated Assault With A Deadly Weapon (the original charge was Attempted Second Degree Murder, which was pled down). His last registered address is 272 18th St NE, Winter Haven.

His Lee County prior charges are: Aggravated Assault With a Weapon, Robbery, Burglary, Grand Theft, Dealing in Stolen Property.

His Polk County prior charges are: Attempted 2nd Degree Murder, Resisting Arrest, Fleeing to Elude, Impersonating a LEO, Unlawful Possession of a Handcuff Key, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Giving False Info to LEO During Investigation, Grand Theft, Trespassing, Forgery, Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Controlled Substance, DWLSR, Vehicle Theft, Burglary.

"The choice he made yesterday - a fugitive from justice, driving without a DL, a convicted felon in possession of a stolen gun, and a trafficking amount of Meth, and an active felony VOP warrant with 2 charges, having only been out of prison for 5.5 months - resulted in his death. All he had to do was comply. Instead, he shot at us." - Sheriff Grady Judd