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By BILLY TOWNSEND
The Tampa Tribune
LAKELAND - The shoulder-to-shoulder line of Central Florida SWAT officers, organized in closely linked teams of 10 or 11, stretched for hundreds of feet and slowly crept north toward Interstate 4.
Carrying MP5 submachine guns and other assault weapons, the officers hacked through vines and poked at every possible hiding place Friday in a dense patch of brush and woods that had become ground zero of the search for a man who killed a deputy.
Just after 9:30 a.m., one of the teams happened upon a large fallen oak tree. Dug in beneath it they found the man accused of ambushing and killing Deputy Matt Williams and his K-9 partner Diogi on Thursday.
“They were pretty much on top of him before they could see him,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.
In a flash, what probably was the most intensive manhunt in Polk County history reached its climax.
One officer, who hasn’t been identified, ordered the suspect to show his hands, Judd said. The suspect showed just one hand.
Then someone saw a gun in the other, and nine of 10 members of the team opened fire, killing the man in place with “numerous” shots, Judd said. It was less than 100 yards from where Williams and Diogi were killed.
The suspect had his right hand on Williams’ 45-caliber semiautomatic service handgun, investigators said.
About a half-mile away, at the command post near Kathleen High School, police radios began to crackle, and the news spread fast.
At one point Judd was heard on the radio saying, “Search is over. Suspect Signal Seven.” That’s police language for dead.
A cheer went up.
Within moments, Judd arrived to tell reporters, announcing, “God will be the judge and jury this time.”
2 Days, 2 Names
But who is the man upon whom the verdict was rendered?
The sheriff’s office provided a second possible identity for him in as many days.
Judd said detectives are certain that a man arrested in Polk County in 1999 under the name Angilo Freeland, 27, is the same man killed under the tree Friday.
They do not know if that’s the name on his birth certificate or the one he used most often. Angilo Freeland has ties to several Lakeland addresses, investigators said. None seems current.
A different name, Eswardo O. Ramclaim, was provided Thursday night - with warnings that it probably was bogus. It was the name the man gave Deputy Douglas Speirs when he stopped him for speeding at 10th Street and Wabash Avenue in north Lakeland.
Freeland was arrested in 1999 by the Florida Highway Patrol on charges that he had no driver’s license, fled from officers and had a concealed weapon.
The charges echo the circumstances of Thursday’s 11:45 a.m. traffic stop, from which Freeland bolted into a nearby wooded area.
By late afternoon Friday, crime scene technicians were working closely over Freeland’s body, which was to be sent to the medical examiner’s office. Judd said he expects a better identification to emerge.
In the meantime, Judd said, detectives are developing a picture of who Freeland was. They found no drugs in the rental car he was driving, but they think he has ties to a drug ring.
And Judd said two cell phones he dropped and a “book of associates” detectives found are providing a number of leads.
The Ambush
Judd provided more details Friday about what might have happened in the woods when Speirs, Williams and Diogi went in after Freeland as other deputies ringed the area.
It appears Williams and Diogi tracked Freeland almost too successfully and that the dense vegetation worked to their disadvantage.
“They had run him into an area so thick that he couldn’t move,” Judd said.
With nowhere left to run, Freeland holed up behind a tree in much the same fashion that he did Friday morning. And then he struck in what Judd called “an ambush.” Judd said Williams and Diogi were too good at their jobs to have been overcome by anything other than an ambush.
Detectives think Freeland used a 9 mm Taurus handgun to kill Williams and his dog. That gun also was found on Freeland after he was killed. Detectives still are not saying where Williams was hit, but they have said he was struck with several shots and likely died instantly.
Speirs was wounded in the leg shortly afterward in an exchange of fire, and the shooter fled.
Speirs was treated at a Lakeland hospital Thursday but not admitted. It wasn’t immediately clear which weapon Freeland used on Speirs or when he took Williams’ weapon.
However he did it, Freeland managed to kill a seasoned deputy and his highly trained K-9, take his gun and ammunition, wound another deputy and successfully elude capture in a fairly confined space for almost 24 hours.
It shows a capability of cool, tactical thinking, sheriff’s officials said.
“It makes you wonder,” said Gary Hester, sheriff’s office chief of staff, when asked whether detectives think Freeland might have received formal military training of some kind.
Hester said there is no evidence of that. But he said one source in the investigation says Freeland might have trained informally at a Lakeland gun range.
A Violent, Vital Confrontation
Judd said Friday that the key to getting Freeland was how quickly deputies and police officers sealed off both the wooded area and the wider swath of north Lakeland that remained locked down throughout the manhunt.
It helped that deputies were on scene backing up the search for Freeland when the shooting started.
Judd singled out the Lakeland Police Department for praise. He cited the agency’s quick arrival at Interstate 4, cutting Freeland’s access to the north.
He said two Lakeland police officers who exchanged gunfire with Freeland just after the deputies were shot might have staved off a worse crisis. They forced him back into the woods and away from an elderly couple’s home at 1446 Wabash Ave., the very northern end of the road.
“He would have got in there and hurt that couple and got himself a car,” Hester said.
On Friday, Paul Prebor, 76, the owner of the home, casually retold his brush with death and showed off bullet marks - one coming, one going - in the eaves of his outdoor laundry room and shed near the rear of his house.
Nearby, sheriff’s administrators picked up spent canisters of tear gas that still gave off enough odor to make eyes water. Officers had used them Thursday, thinking Freeland might have run from the gunfire into the house as Prebor and his wife fled.
The Prebors live several hundred yards north of the site of the traffic stop and even closer to the spot where Freeland was killed.
Paul Prebor said he didn’t hear the shooting of the deputies, but he quickly noticed the commotion that followed and came out to see what was going on. He saw officers with guns drawn telling him to go back inside, where his wife was, and lock his doors.
After a few moments informing neighbors, Prebor was preparing to go inside when Lakeland policeofficers Jeff Birdwell, a detective, and Jose Bosque pulled up.
They got out, Prebor said, and one asked a strange question: “Does that black man in your backyard have any reason to be there?”
‘He Was Tall’
Rather than answer, Prebor, who was facing away from his backyard, said he instinctively turned. He saw Freeland, gun drawn, run into the covered opening of the shed, step in front of a barbecue grill and open fire at him and the officers. They were standing about 75 yards away, near the street.
Prebor said he thinks Freeland fired twice and that the officers quickly fired twice in return. Lakeland police spokesman Jack Gillen, who identified the officers, said both got off rounds, but he did not know how many.
All the shots, from both sides, missed. Freeland bolted back into the Prebors’ backyard. Prebor rushed to retrieve his wife, who was in the kitchen behind an open window, and take her across the street to a neighbor’s home.
Prebor said he saw Freeland for about three seconds.
“It happened so fast, I didn’t have time to be scared. I’m not that emotional about things,” he said.
His impression of Freeland? “I thought he was tall.”
That’s accurate. Freeland’s Polk arrest record lists him at 6-foot-2. At least one of his bullets struck the inside eave of the shed on its way out, splintering wood and perhaps altering the path of the bullet.
Though officers weren’t able to nab or kill Freeland there, they managed to push him away from the area where he might most easily have found hostages and likely back into the brush, sheriff’s officials said.
“We felt confident that he hadn’t gotten out of there,” Hester said. “We felt he was pinned down.”
They were confident enough that Thursday night the SWAT leaders from the various agencies on scene began to plan the meticulous search of the woods that would find Freeland on Friday morning.
They would find and kill him within sight of Prebor’s home.
Editor Dave Nicholson contributed to this report. Reporter Billy Townsend can be reached at (863) 284-1409 or wtownsend@tampatrib.com.
UNFOLDING EVENTS
Thursday
11:45 a.m.: Deputy Douglas Speirs pulls over a driver for speeding at 10th Street and Wabash Avenue. The driver runs into dense woods northwest of the traffic stop scene. Backup deputies arrive to surround the area. After several minutes, Speirs, Deputy Vernon Matthew “Matt” Williams and his dog partner, Diogi, go into the woods.
12:30 p.m.: The driver fires at the deputies, killing Williams and Diogi. Speirs is wounded in the leg. The shooter flees.
About 1 p.m.: As deputies and police begin swarming the area, the man is seen in the backyard of a home at 1446 N. Wabash. He exchanges fire with two Lakeland police officers. No one is hit. The man disappears again.
4 p.m.: Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announces Williams and Diogi are dead. A massive manhunt spreads across much of north Lakeland.
About 7 p.m.: Students from nearby Kathleen High School are taken by bus, under armed guard, to a north Lakeland church, where parents finally are allowed to pick them up.
9 p.m.: Judd gives his final briefing of the night and warns, “We’re prepared for a gunfight if he wants a gunfight.”
Friday
9:35 a.m.: A patrol of SWAT officers walking shoulder to shoulder near the scene of the shootings happens upon the driver, who had buried himself beneath a fallen tree overgrown with brush. The man raises only one hand. The officers, seeing a gun, open fire, killing the man. Moments later a cheer is heard at the law enforcement command center near Kathleen High.
9:50 a.m.: Judd announces suspect is dead. He was carrying a .45-caliber handgun thought to be Williams’ service weapon.
If I was there I would have done the same thing. I would have even reloaded to make sure the good deed was done and if anyone has a problem with what those officers did move somewere else. I feel goof knowing i live in a state were the police are willing to do what needs to be done for the safety of the citizens. I only wish the same could apply to sex offenders and other violent criminals. It would definatly clean up the streets.
I just want to say that I am really sorry about DEPUTY MATT WILLIAMS AND “HIS PARTNERâ€, DIOGI,. Doug is my cousin and I am glad that he is alright. I am proud of the work that he is doing and I want to say that everyone is Lakeland should be very proud of their police force. They put their lives on the line everyday for all of us.
IN RESPONSE TO NATE TURNERS IGNORANT COMMENTS REGARDING AND INVESTIGATION OF THE SWAT TEAMS SWIFT, EFFECTIVE, AND CORRECT ACTIONS: THE MAN COMMITTED SUICIDE BY NOT FOLLOWING ORDERS TO SHOW BOTH OF HIS HANDS AND BY HOLDING A GUN. THERE IS ALSO A WITNESS TO THE FACT THAT THE PERPETRATOR HAD SHOT AT THE COPS AND FLED AGAIN. HE OBVIOUSLY WAS A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY. DEPUTY MATT WILLIAMS AND “HIS PARTNER”, DIOGI, WERE MURDERED BY THIS SCUMBAG. IN MY OPINION HE KILLED TWO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. NO INVESTIGATION IS NEEDED, CASE CLOSED NATE TURNER!
There are no words for the tragedy of having lost an officer and his K-9. His fellow officers have honored him by their brave performance of duty. These highly trained officers and members of the SWAT Teams deserve respect and appreciation for the risks they take in enforcing the law, protecting citizens from danger.
How to commend them for doing their job? Show respect, pay them well and you obey the law. Thank you, Officers of Polk County. And any other agency that assisted.
If a black person’s envolved in this kind of incident who violated the laws and white police officers enforcing the law the immidiate comments by blacks they will say “the white police officers are racist”. That’s the negative comments you will get from the black community without first examining both side of the story. 
To Kizzy M.
Oh BROTHER!
Talk about snap out of it!!!!!!!
What an IGNORANT tirade.
The victim who is accused of shooting and killing the office and his mutt was shot at 100 times with 68 bullets hitting him. Keep in mind that he was only accused of the charges. If he did shoot the cops and the mutt that did not give the cops the right to go on a murderous rampage and execute him. You mean to tell me that it took ATF agents the SWAT team and probably some deputies to fire 100 shots at one man. More than likely the so-called shooter of the cops and the mutt was pulled over for being a black man and the cops were probably some racist rednecks with a high school education.
He raised one hand but the other hand had a gun
“That is a straight out lie†The officer murdered him and it needs to be an investigation.
Deputy Matt Williams & Diogi got hit by 9 bullets and the murderer that shot them got hit by 68. I only wish the other 42 bullets that were fired had hit him as well. I hope that the Polk Co Sheriffs Dept is 100% successful in tracking down all of his friends too. To all of you who think that the SWAT team members responded too quickly and that that dirt bag had rights, I say get a life. Preferably one not in Florida.
As someone whose boyfriend is a deputy with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office this tragedy has struck too close to home. I cannot even comprehend what it must be like for the Williams family to know that their husband/father will not be coming home. Law enforcement officers leaves their families everyday and risks their lives for the very little thanks most of the time. These brave people do a job that very few people can and are even willing to do. For those people who are so quick to critize Law Enforcement, how many of you would be willing to be killed for people that you have never met before? Most of us would never think of working in a job that we could be killed at a moment’s notice, but these brave men and women go in to the situation knowing that it is a distinct possibility each and every day. Think about this: That piece of scum was probably making more money selling and transporting drugs this month that those men and women have made all year…Doesn’t seem right does it?
As to those who see racism in the killing of this violent creep, the only potential evidence of racism is in his having killed and wounded white officers and the defninte evidence of it in those who seek to defend his actions.
First and foremost I wish to express my sincere condolenceses to all families affected by this tragedy. The “Blue Line” has been fractured, when one falls in the line of duty. I didn’t know Mr. Williams or his partner Diogi, but somehow in the back of my mind I think I did. I thank all law enforcement for their dedication to help us, to place our lives before theirs. I sit at my desk penning this feeling sad that yet another criminal takes a life. So many people, regardless of age, race, are dying at the hands of criminals.God Bless all who stand a watch, police our neighborhoods, and place their lives in jeopardy so we can sit back and within their protection malign, criticize, and show just how selfish we are. It’s not a Race issue, please stop showing just how ignorant you are. When a life is taken regardless of bad guy or good guy its sad. A life that could have been productive wasn’t. A life that was productive was cut short. Families are left wondering why.
Another example of Sheriff Grady Judds use of excessive force. There are still lawsuits pending against his band of redneck officers. I wouldn’t doubt that the gun was planted on the black victim. Sherriff Grady Judd thinks he’s superman when he puts that uniform on, but he will go down next election.
The police officers and SWAT teams were doing their jobs, which were to bring this man, who killed another man and a dog in cold blood, to justice. Bringing him to justice didn’t mean killing him - HE made that choice when he chose to keep weilding a weapon and not raise both of his hands. I don’t care what race a person is, he or she would certainly be shot in that situation.
I think people aren’t celebrating his death so much as celebrating that a repeat offender, who probably would have continued to hurt and kill people and otherwise break the law, is off the streets for good. White, black, purple, or green - no one wants murderers on the loose. It’s not a matter of eye-for-an-eye, disrespect for human life, or a racial issue. This man killed someone and refused to cooperate when they tried to bring him in. His life’s actions and ultimately his death were HIS CHOICE. Our sympathies are better spent on the Williams family and the entire law enforcement community.
Jermaine,
no matter what you think about cops, prejudice and the news remember your buddy killed a dog and for that alone he deserves what he got.
My hats off to the local LEO’s for a job well done and to one of Hillsborough County’s finest deputies ever: Elliot Parsowith.
Nancy Horne,
People like you are the reason that so many criminals get only a slap on the hand, and are back on the streets terrorizing innocent people. Rather than getting the punishment that they deserve!
It’s called ACCOUNTABILITY! More people need to be taught what the definition of that word is, including yourself.
Colored! Only in the south do people still use that word. And you know what, thats why I dont agree with the way things played out, because I know firsthand that mentality is inside many of the people here in the south. It is ridiculous. I was never so close to racism as I have been since I have lived in the state. Its ridiculous that people still think that way. And I’m sure many of those officers that were out there that day were thinking the same thing or something worse. Colored! Dear god it’s 2006. You people need to snap out of it. African Americans are not the only people in the world that commit crimes. A crime is a crime no matter who does it. But with that type of mentality it seems a crime is worse if it is done by a “colored” person.
I really think its a shame that all you people are concerned about is not paying taxes. But yet we have all these repeat offenders that we are paying taxes to house.Its a shame that someone makes a comment and then they are taunted and told they must live in government housing. That can be expected from people who live in the south. It shows the ignorance of the people. We are paying for a war and many of our soldiers are dying for no god forsaken reason. But your concern is one prisoner. Your ignorant if you believe that they have told the whole story. And you are ignorant for berating someone who is just expressing their own personal opinion as you have expressed your lame brained thoughts.
If he was going to shoot the officer who found him, he would have done that, rather than let him stand over him. I have heard there were 78 rounds fired, I have heard there were over 100 rounds fired, either way that is a bit too much. They could have injured him if they chose to, so that he could be brought to justice. But like the great sheriff said, they will take him down guns blazing if they have to. And thats just what they did. Served him with their definition of justice. Besides he is a black man who killed a white law enforcement officer in the Imperial Polk County. They couldnt have that. Im sure they would have hung him and set him on fire if they could have. I know he was wrong, but Im sure that we will never know what really took place in those woods. That man may have surrendered.
Of course they are going to tell us that he wouldnt raise one hand. Of course they are going to tell us that he had a gun in one hand. They had to have a reason to justify using such excessive force and riddling his body full of bullets. They were determined to catch him and not wait for execution, but to execute him in their own way.
Jeff B. and Paul S. You should be ashamed of yourself. This forum is for Deputy Matt Wiiliams, his faithful companion and the other officer that was wounded and families. Not to show us what a horses -ss you are. Yes, I am white. One day we all will stand before Jesus Christ for judgement. You may be surprised if he is also black. Maybe yes, maybe no. That really doesnt matter.
Thank you to all law emforcement officers who do there job protecting us.
As a retired Hillsborough Co. Deputy with 28 years in law enforcement, my only regret is that I wasn’t down there to help find the cop killing piece of trash.
God bless those SWAT guys who did find him as well as all those other brave officers who set up the perimeter to keep the creep contained. Great job by all!
To the citizens in Polk Co and the rest of the country: it means a lot when a citizen walks up to a police officer and thanks him/her for serving the community. It doesn’t happen often enough.
what woman or man ? can cast the first stone ?
The People of Polk County, The State Of Florida and the entire nation is blessed every day to have the such highly trained caliber of men & women out there with the common goal to strive to always Protect & Serve the Public. As you can see now that can result in extremen measures of unexpected circumstance.
The public at large needs to understand that police initiatives inclusive of tactical intervention is a necessary part of the escalation of force to insure the daily safety of our citizens & children.
Maybe the next time you see one and have a chance to speak a statement, extend your hand and just say ‘Thank You. They will appreciate that with a sense of pride & give them the strength to go forward, surely in troubled times as well like now.
There is much more to know like the courage, brotherhood, commitment, spirit, love, kindness and care they all share on & off duty.
‘COPS PROGRAM’
http://www.nationalcops.org/donate.htm
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Posted by Duane L. Mitchell, Trivoli, Illinois on 03/04 at 04:08 PM
I wish we had men like Sheriff Grady Judd and Sheriff Joe Apairo of Maricopa Country, Arizona, running our justice department instead of the bleeding heart liberals that we now have.