Chaos ensued in Polk County as Curtis Young, a 53-year-old sex offender, assaulted a deputy and ignited a manhunt after stealing the officer's gun. As reported by WFLA, the incident happened around 2:45 p.m. near Brunell Parkway and Lorri Ave in Lakeland when Young, who had violated his sex offender registration, sparked a pursuit as soon as he sighted the law enforcement.

During the chase, Young tackled a deputy to the ground and managed to disarm him. "The good news is he chose not to shoot us," Sheriff Grady Judd expressed relief, as told to the media by WFLA. The suspect fled on foot and a substantial manhunt featuring helicopters, boats, and K-9 units was put into motion to track him down.

FOX13 News reports that Young was located by marine deputies, hiding about 50-75 yards offshore in Lake Bonnet's aquatic vegetation, having jumped into the water in an apparent effort to evade capture. The chase ended roughly two hours after it began, with Young being taken into custody and now facing multiple charges, including assaulting an officer and theft of a firearm.

Sheriff Judd, while speaking with WTSP, remarked on the incident, "This violent and dangerous suspect wasn't going to escape after assaulting my deputy. Also, I don't recommend jumping in a lake in this weather. You'll just end up going to jail cold and wet." A nearby school was briefly locked down, but there was no threat posed to students or staff. The deputy's firearm, at the time of reporting, was still being sought in the lake.

Young's prior criminal record includes arrests for lewd and lascivious battery on a minor, kidnapping, and failure to register as a sex offender, among others. The Polk County Sheriff's Office has announced plans to review the security of deputy gun holsters following the incident. No one was reportedly hurt during the altercation or the manhunt. Further details and the full scope of charges pending against Young are expected to be made public.