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Three teens arrested in incident that led to Lakeland police officer's shooting

LAKELAND — Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said law enforcement have arrested three teens in connection with the shooting of a Lakeland police officer Wednesday in Northwest Lakeland.

Jermaine Julian, 19, of Lakeland was arrested as the driver of the white Dodge Avenger that led LPD officer Jaime Smith on police pursuit. He was charged with attempted first-degree murder, fleeing to elude, leaving the scene of an accident, no valid driver's license, contributing to a minor, tampering with evidence and resisting arrest with violence.

His two teenage passengers, 13- and 14-year-old boys, were also arrested.

The 13-year-old, whom authorities say was the person who shot Lakeland police officer Jamie Smith in the foot, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, resisting arrest with violence, resisting arrest, discharge of a firearm in public, improper exhibition of a firearm and violation of probation.

The 14-year-old faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, resisting arrest with violence, tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm by a minor.

Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor, right, and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd discussed the arrests of three teens Thursday, a day after a shootout that wounded a Lakeland police officer.
Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor, right, and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd discussed the arrests of three teens Thursday, a day after a shootout that wounded a Lakeland police officer.

The Ledger is not naming the juveniles in keeping with its crime-reporting guidelines.

Judd said the three teens were cruising around Northwest Lakeland in a vehicle registered to Julian's mother Wednesday evening smoking marijuana. Each has been identified by law enforcement as a gang member or associate, he said. Officials declined to provide a specific gang identity.

"They were looking for an op ― an opportunity to shoot the opposition," he said.

Officer Jaime Smith responded to 911 calls reporting a dangerous shooting in the 1600 block of Kettles Avenue. Smith drove up behind the white Dodge Avenger and ordered the suspects to stop, but a suspect got back into the car, which sped off.

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Judd said it is not clear at this point in the investigation what house, vehicle or individual the teens were shooting at. There has not been any corresponding report made to law enforcement.After a short vehicle pursuit, all three teens abandoned the vehicle while it was in motion to flee on foot. Video footage from the dashboard of Smith's car shows the car careening down the road unmanned, sideswiping an oncoming vehicle before coming to a stop.

The dashboard video shows the 13-year-old suspect running down the sidewalk toward Smith's cruiser before turning to run the opposite direction. A gun, later identified as a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic, is clearly visible in the suspect's right hand.

Footage released Thursday morning from Smith's body camera video shows the officer rounding the corner of a building at Carrington Place apartments in pursuit of the armed suspect. As the officer rounds the corner, the suspect fires a shot before turning to square off to Smith and firing a round that strikes the officer's left foot. "Our follow up is that (the armed suspect) intentionally tried to murder a police officer after they were out cruising," Judd said.

The 13-year-old suspect continued to run, taking cover in bushes close to the building, according to Judd, later popping out to engage in a second gun battle with Smith. A second officer, Joseph Jano, arrived at the scene and also fired at the suspect.

The 13-year-old was shot several times in the stomach, left thigh and leg. He has been admitted to Tampa General Hospital for treatment where he is being guarded by LPD officers. Upon his release from the hospital, he will be transferred to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

Upon search of the suspects' vehicle, Judd said investigators found a second Taurus firearm left underneath the front passenger seat where the 14-year-old was seated. There were also a number of spent bullet casings.

Investigators have not yet been able to identify the owners of the guns, as serial numbers are not registered, Judd said. The sheriff said he has reason to believe the two firearms were stolen.

The three suspects were on probation at the time of Wednesday's events. Judd said the two juveniles were arrested together in January in vehicle burglary. One of the conditions of probation for the the 13- and 14-year-old was that they were not to be together, Judd said.

Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor said Smith had two broken bones in his foot and was undergoing a round of antibiotics before likely to be released from Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center some time on Thursday.

"He is asleep, as well as you can sleep in a hospital with a hole in your foot," Taylor said.

Speaking on Smith's actions, Taylor said, "I can't be more complimentary of the way the officer reacted last night. He reacted exactly the way he was trained.

"He had an opportunity after he was shot, to pull back and set up a perimeter and just let the guy go into the apartment complex. He chose not to do that," Taylor said. "He continued to press on, press the issue and got (the suspect) to lay up into the bushes, where he was ultimately able to flush him out and get him in custody after another gun battle. What officer Smith did last night was nothing short of heroic."

Taylor said there was no indication this shooting was connected to the mass shooting on Iowa Avenue that inured 10 in January.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFl.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Teens arrested after Lakeland police officer's shooting