Lake Wales Man Busted After Golf Club Beating on Busy Stretch of SR 60

On Wednesday, deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office rushed to the area of Myrtle Avenue and State Road 60 in Lake Wales after a report that a man had been attacked with a golf club. Deputies say the suspect was taken into custody and the victim was transported to a hospital with injuries that may include broken bones. Witnesses at the scene stepped in and pulled the golf club away before law enforcement arrived.

Sheriff's Account And Arrest

According to a post by Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, deputies identified the suspect as 54-year-old Reuben "Buddy" Free III of Lake Wales. He was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. The sheriff’s post states that the victim was struck about five times with the golf club and taken to an area hospital, and that witnesses intervened and took the weapon away from Free. The post also notes that Free refused to speak with deputies about what happened.

Charge And Possible Penalties

The charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon is a second-degree felony under Florida law and can carry a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison and fines up to $10,000, per the Florida Senate. How prosecutors choose to move forward, including any potential enhancements, bond recommendations or additional counts, will be decided by the State Attorney's Office as the investigation and charging documents progress.

Local Context And Next Steps

The attack took place along a busy stretch of SR 60 east of downtown Lake Wales, a corridor that has already seen serious crashes and violent incidents this year. That includes a multi-vehicle pileup earlier in February tied to a Highway 60 horror that drew regional attention. Officials have not released additional details about the victim's current condition or the suspect's bond as of Friday. Court filings and Polk County booking records are expected to outline the next steps once they become publicly available.