Winter Haven woman killed by Polk County Sheriff's deputy after reportedly threatening him with a shovel

The Polk County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that left a 24-year-old Winter Haven woman dead.

Officials with the Sheriff's Office said the shooting happened Thursday around 3:45 p.m. in Wahneta, an unincorporated area of Polk County, after they say Jessiram Hweih Rivera threatened the deputy with a shovel.

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The incident unfolded when deputies were called to the area regarding "a suspicious woman who was walking in and out of moving traffic" on Rifle Range Road near Noles Lane in Wahneta, according to a press release.

The report went on to tell of how Polk County Sheriff's Office Patrol Sergeant Sean Speakman, 46, arrived in the area at approximately 3:26 p.m. and attempted to speak with Rivera.

"She was in an obvious state of agitation and she was holding a shovel," the report stated. "As Sergeant Speakman was talking with the woman on a private dirt driveway, she raised the shovel, pointing it towards the Sergeant and began advancing towards him."

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That's when officials said Speakman ordered Rivera multiple times to stop and put the shovel down as he backed away.

"She did not put the shovel down," the report went on to state, "and continued to advance towards the Sergeant, threatening him with the shovel. The Sergeant fired four shots, striking the woman."

Reached by telephone, Friday, Sheriff Grady Judd commented on the incident.

"She was pointing the sharp end of the shovel at him and approaching him and he was by himself," he said. "You don't have your taser out because if it fails, she runs the shovel through you or cuts your throat with it."

After the shooting, officials said Speakman radioed that shots had been fired and began life-saving measures until Polk County Fire Rescue arrived. Rivera was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

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Despite being unaware of Rivera's criminal background, which includes violence against a law enforcement officer, Judd said Speakman had no choice but to protect himself.

"She has been arrested for battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assaults, aggravated battery, eight or nine violent felony arrests," Judd said. "So she was a very violent, very dangerous person."

"We see that often with abuse of narcotics," Judd continued. "So I'm not going to be the least bit surprised when the autopsy results come back and they finish the toxicology to find out that she was either significantly impaired by alcohol or, more likely, dangerous drugs."

Judd said Speakman, who is also a member of S.W.A.T., is trained in crisis intervention and handling incidents that involve someone with mental health issues.

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"So he has far more training in controlling erratic situations than even the average deputy would," Judd said. "Certainly, if that situation could've been diffused without the protective action, the sergeant would've done that."

According to the Sheriff's Office, protocol for all deputy-involved shootings include four independent investigations: the PCSO Homicide Unit is conducting a death investigation, PCSO Administrative Investigations is conducting an administrative inquiry, the State Attorney's Office will conduct a separate investigation, and the 10th District Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an investigation to determine the cause and manner of death.

Protocol also calls for Speakman to be placed on administrative leave with pay during the initial phase of the investigation.

Ledger reporter Rebecca Lee can be reached at Rlee3@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @RELReports.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk County Sheriff's deputy shoots Winter Haven woman Jessiram Rivera