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Angel Bowers

Age : 27

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/06/2026

Location : Rushing Road, Kathleen area

City : Lakeland

County : Polk

State : Florida

Agency : Polk County Sheriff's Office

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during warrant arrest and K-9 search

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/06/2026, Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies went to the Rushing Road area northwest of Lakeland to arrest 27-year-old Angel Bowers on an outstanding warrant after he missed a court appearance. Deputies located Bowers, but he ran into a heavily wooded area, and deputies began searching for him with K-9 Ace.

According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, three deputies and Ace eventually located Bowers deep in the woods. The Sheriff's Office said Bowers opened fire at the deputies. During the exchange of gunfire, Ace was struck in a front leg. Deputies returned fire, striking and killing Bowers. None of the three deputies was struck by gunfire.

Ace was assigned to Deputy Oestreich and was initially reported in critical condition. The dog was transported for emergency veterinary treatment and underwent surgery on 08/07/2026. The damage to his leg was severe enough that veterinarians amputated it. Ace survived the shooting but will be retired from service after six years with the Sheriff's Office.

The 10th Judicial Circuit Officer-Involved Deadly Incident Task Force is investigating Bowers' killing. The reporting reviewed identifies Oestreich as Ace's handler but does not establish that Oestreich was one of the deputies who fired at Bowers. The Sheriff's Office has not yet publicly identified the deputies who fired, so the Officer(s) field remains Not Disclosed pending further release of their names.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/man-dies-after-shooting-polk-county-sheriffs-office-k-9/B7EGJKNKTJCXRG23Q3JGN2I4BM/
https://www.fox13news.com/news/polk-county-deputy-involved-shooting-suspect-dead-k9-injured-kathleen
https://www.tampabay28.com/news/region-polk/polk-county-deputy-involved-shooting-in-kathleen-leaves-suspect-dead-k-9-injured
https://www.tampabay28.com/news/region-polk/after-taking-a-bullet-for-deputies-polk-county-k-9-ace-survives-surgery
https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/polkcounty/k9-shot-polk-county-suspect-dead-deputies/67-c80d6519-df33-4016-bdf4-101869f26043