Polk County CO Sgt Ronnie Brown Dies

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This was taken from the Polk County Board.


POLK COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A Polk County Sheriff's detention deputy died Tuesday morning due to complications from injuries he received during a struggle with an inmate, Sheriff Grady Judd said.

According to the sheriff, Sgt. Ronnie Brown suffered a fractured vertebrae after being slammed into a concrete wall and falling to the floor.

The struggle occurred when Brown and another deputy attempted to move Barnett after he broke the sprinkler in his isolation cell, causing it to flood.

Polk Jail Sgt. Dies After Altercation With Inmate

By Jeremy Maready
THE LEDGER

Rest in peace Brother


Published: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 3:08 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 6:59 p.m.
BARTOW | A Polk County Sheriff’s Office detention sergeant died this morning after surgery to repair injuries suffered in an altercation with an “out-of-control” inmate, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.


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Terrence Barnett Sgt. Ronnie Brown underwent surgery for broken vertebrae and died today at Winter Haven Hospital, Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Another deputy was stabbed in the incident and was treated and released for his injuries, Judd said.

Brown’s death is the first time a Polk detention officer has been killed in the line of duty.

Brown was injured in a confrontation Aug. 30. with inmate Terrence Barnett. Barnett had broken the sprinkler system inside his cell, Judd said.

When Brown and other deputies went into the cell, Barnett struggled with them, shoving Brown against a concrete wall at the South County Jail, and Brown fell onto the concrete floor, Judd said.

Detectives are now conducting a homicide investigation into the death, the sheriff said.

While charges in the incident have been filed against Barnett, the 6-foot, 10-inch, 225-pound man has not been charged with Brown’s death, yet, Judd said.

Barnett was being held at the jail for the 2007 Highlands County murder of Bryan “Red” Fanning, along with other numerous charges, according to jail information and news reports.

“He was known to be bad,” Judd said. “They tried to talk to him. They tried to move him out. But he wasn’t having any of that.”

Brown is the first sheriff’s office employee to be killed in the line of duty since Deputy Matt Williams, and his K-9 parter, Diogi, were shot and killed in 2006 by Angilo Freeland, who was later killed by officers.

[ Jeremy Maready can be reached at jeremy.maready@theledger.com or 863-802-7592. ]

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