Bradenton Man Shot By Polk County Deputy In Traffic Stop

MULBERRY, FL — A traffic stop in Mulberry Friday morning turned into the driver of a truck getting shot in the thigh by a Polk County Sheriff's Office deputy.

Lt. Laura Rhodes stopped 47-year-old Michael Jeremy Hatfield of Bradenton who drove a Ford350 super duty truck that pulled an alleged stolen trailer and Bobcat in the area of First Avenue NW and Seventh Street NW at 11:50 a.m. The theft of the trailer had been reported to the Lakeland Police Department earlier in the day, a sheriff's news release said.

According to deputies, a fight occurred between the two people. Hatfield is accused by police of trying to overpower Rhodes by accelerating the truck. In return, Rhodes shot Hatfield once in the left hip. He drove away and police later found him sitting inside his truck two blocks away near Third Street NW and Phosphate Boulevard. Authorities took him to a local hospital for a non-life- threatening injury. The charges he was arrested on have not been released by police.

Rhodes is a 20-year law enforcement veteran, detectives said.

This is a developing story. Patch will keep you updated.