News and Investigations

On Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at about 11:30 p.m., Polk County Sheriff's Deputies were forced to shoot an armed, suicidal Winter Haven man after he pointed a shotgun at them. The man was identified as 20-year-old Chance Christopher Haegele of 138 Jay Drive, Winter Haven.

According to the preliminary investigation, PCSO Deputies responded to the home last night after a student at Florida State University called the Polk County Sheriff's Office and reported that Haegele stated via social media posts that he didn't want to live, and that he was going to kill himself with a 12-gauge shotgun. The caller also reported that a friend called Haegele after seeing the posts, and Haegele told that friend that he had killed his mother. PCSO received other calls from different concerned family and friends in reference to Haegele's social media posts (Facebook and Snapchat).

PCSO Emergency Communications Center (ECC) members called Haegele's mother several times. During an initial call she told the dispatcher that she was physically okay, but the call got disconnected, and the ECC kept calling back. During one call, Haegele's mother told the dispatcher that Haegele had a shotgun.

The initial Deputies who arrived on scene saw a struggle between a man and a woman, and then saw the man flee. The woman was identified as Haegele's mother, and she confirmed that her son fled with the shotgun. She added that he said he wanted deputies to kill him.

Deputies set up a perimeter and quickly caught up with Haegele, who was running east toward a lake. He changed direction, and began running back to the west. They located him hiding in the bushes and gave him verbal commands to come out with his hands up. Haegele emerged from the bushes in a tactical stance, holding the shotgun. He was ordered several times to drop the firearm, but he instead pointed it at one of the deputies, Reginald Green. Green and fellow Deputy Joseph Hicks shot at Haegele numerous times, striking him.

Deputies immediately began life-saving measures on Haegele, but he succumbed to his injuries on scene.

None of the deputies were injured.

"This is a sad ending to a troubled life. I stand behind my deputies, who were forced to take action when confronted with a firearm. He made it clear through his statements and his actions that he was intent on committing suicide by cop, and ultimately that is what happened." - Grady Judd, Sheriff 

The following is a history of PCSO interactions with Haegele - he does not have a criminal history:

• September 25, 2017 - Baker Act, 138 Jay Drive, Winter Haven; mom reported he was not taking his medication & had kicked out a window; he reported that his mother made him want to kill himself; he also said he had been Baker Acted by FSU police three times in the past; PCSO followed up with him in December 2017, and determined he was taking his medication, seeing a counselor on a regular basis, and attending church. 

• October 17, 2017 - Baker Act, 138 Jay Drive, Winter Haven; he told his mother he wanted to kill himself; PCSO followed up with his mother in November 2017, who told us that he was doing better and staying at his aunt's house in Poinciana. 

• November 6, 2017 - Baker Act, 308 Michigan Place, Kissimmee (Poinciana); he made statements he wanted to kill himself; PCSO followed up with him in November 2017, and determined he was okay and not having suicidal thoughts. 

• November 29, 2017 - remanded into custody via the Marchman Act, after refusing to comply with an earlier Exparte Order for involuntary assessment and stabilization through the Tri-County Human Services detox unit (he walked away from the detox facility, prompting a Marchman Act warrant to be issued). 

• February 10, 2018 - Baker Act, 308 Michigan Place, Kissimmee (Poinciana); he contacted the Crisis Center and stated he wanted to kill himself; when deputies arrived, he said that was a prank call, but then said he didn't want to live anymore, and that he would die in a couple of weeks; PCSO followed up with him 2 weeks later, and he said he felt good, was taking his medication, and not having any suicidal thoughts.

We have been told that Haegele attended Florida State University for one year before withdrawing. Please contact the University for confirmation.

There are four ongoing investigations: A death investigation by the PCSO Bureau of Criminal Investigations; an internal investigation by the PCSO Administrative Investigations Unit; an autopsy by the Medical Examiner; and the State Attorney's Office, who was on-scene and will also review all of these investigations once they are completed.

Both deputies who discharged their firearms are on paid administrative leave per standard protocol: Deputy Sheriff Reginald Green, who was hired in October 2014 and is assigned to Central District patrol, and Deputy Sheriff Joseph Hicks, who was hired in April 2014 and is assigned to Central District patrol.