A chaotic and unsettling chain of events unfolded early Monday morning in Polk County, Florida, where a man’s erratic behavior led to a tragic ending shortly after he reportedly survived an encounter with an alligator. Authorities responded to multiple calls about a man acting strangely, ultimately identifying him as 42-year-old Timothy Schulz. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office launched a search around dawn after a local convenience store clerk reported Schulz’s suspicious behavior. Despite a 40-minute search, deputies initially failed to locate him.
The situation escalated when residents in a nearby neighborhood called to report a man swimming in a lake known to be populated by alligators. One witness attempted to throw him a life preserver, while another recounted being growled at when trying to help. Alarmingly, witnesses also said they saw an alligator approaching him as he made his way through the water. Schulz later emerged from the lake injured, bearing what appeared to be bite wounds, and began wandering through the neighborhood with garden shears in hand.
According to authorities, Schulz appeared to be in a disturbed state, attempting to force his way into a resident’s vehicle with a brick. His behavior, coupled with the injury, alarmed neighbors and led to urgent calls for help. Sheriff Grady Judd commented on the severity of the situation, noting the man’s apparent detachment from reality, which he attributed to methamphetamine use. Judd explained that drugs like meth can cause individuals to act with alarming aggression and complete disregard for personal safety or consequences.
As deputies confronted Schulz, witnesses reported seeing him charge at them with the shears. Despite multiple efforts to subdue him with a Taser, Schulz continued to advance. At one point, he managed to enter a patrol vehicle and reached for a deputy’s firearm. That critical moment prompted a trainee and his field training officer to open fire, ultimately resulting in Schulz’s death. A nearby resident, identified only as Steve, described hearing a series of gunshots before seeing deputies pull Schulz from the vehicle and begin administering CPR.
In the aftermath, Sheriff Judd expressed gratitude that none of the deputies or nearby residents were harmed during the confrontation. He highlighted Schulz’s long history of arrests related to methamphetamine, questioning whether the incident was a form of self-destruction brought on by drug use or a deliberate act of aggression. While the incident left many shaken, Judd emphasized the professionalism shown by the deputies involved. As is standard in such cases, the two officers have been placed on administrative leave while the State Attorney’s Office conducts a thorough investigation.
