Multiple suspects were taken into custody in a recent Central Florida riot.
Eight suspects involved in a violent disturbance of peace at Lake Winterset last month were arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
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PCSO received a call reporting an in-progress fight near the shoreline of Lake Winterset. Deputies arrived to find that everyone had already dispersed and escaped the area by boat. The investigation advanced significantly after a cellphone video of the incident surfaced on social media.
According to law enforcement, the video shows a group of people actively participating in a violent brawl, with many punches and kicks delivered. During the altercation, two people appear to be temporarily knocked out; one falls headfirst into the lake while unconscious, while the other is helped by a bystander who does CPR. Several small children are seen near the fight.
A witness reported being on a neighboring boat with his family, including his five-year-old grandson, when the violence began, and that the incident ruined his day and caused anxiety for his family.
The sheriff gave the following excerpts from the affidavits, which he stated are self-explanatory:
The fight, which resulted in two unconscious participants, was violent in nature and occurred in a public setting where it was witnessed by numerous individuals on the lake. It was apparent that all participants acted with a common intent to assist one another in violent and disorderly conduct, creating an imminent danger of injury to others, and thereby engaging in a riot.
These actions corrupted public morals, outraged the sense of public decency, and disturbed the peace and quiet of persons who witnessed the incident, thereby constituting a breach of the peace/disorderly conduct.
The incident took place on private property located beyond the waterline of Lake Winterset, separated by a seawall, and is properly posted with “No Trespassing” signage as defined in F.S. 810.011(5)(a), bearing Polk County Sheriff’s Office markings. All involved subjects actively disregarded the signage and entered the property without authorization.
Because of the Central Florida riot investigation, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office claimed eight suspects were arrested and charged as follows:
- 23-year-old Mason Land – Rioting, affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct
- 19-year-old Payton Ely – Rioting, affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct
- 21-year-old Timothy “Owen” Gooding – Rioting, affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct, contributing to the delinquency of a minor
- 17-year-old Gavin Gooding – Rioting, affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct
- 40-year-old Richard Carden – Rioting, affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct
- 22-year-old Garrett Ore – Rioting, affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct
- 21-year-old Garrett Hiltabidel – Rioting, affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct
- 21-year-old Nate Land – Rioting, affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct
“We will not tolerate violent and disorderly behavior that disrupts the peaceful enjoyment of our community,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “Thanks to the video evidence and witness cooperation, we’ve identified those responsible and have arrested them. And here’s another message – as you are enjoying the beautiful lakes in Winter Haven and throughout our county, stay off of people’s private property.”
