On September 28, 2006, Deputy Sheriff Vernon “Matt” Williams and his K-9 partner Diogi were fatally shot in the line of duty.
Deputy Williams and Diogi were the first backup units on-scene to assist Deputy Doug Speirs on a traffic stop.
The driver of the vehicle fled from the traffic stop on foot and ran into a wooded area off of Wabash Avenue in Lakeland.
Upon their arrival, Williams and DiOGi made their way through the thick woods. The K-9 unit was ambushed and both were fatally shot by the suspect.
A short time later, the suspect confronted and fired several rounds at Deputy Speirs, hitting him in the leg. Speirs returned fire, and the suspect retreated deeper into the woods.
Backup units arrived and began searching the area for the suspect, and for Deputy Williams who was not responding to his radio.
Williams and Diogi were found deceased about an hour after the attack. The fallen deputy’s firearm and extra ammunition was gone.
The suspect remained at large but contained within a tight perimeter set up around the wooded area. Deputies were assisted in the search for the suspect by numerous other law enforcement agencies.
At 9:35 a.m. the following day, Friday, September 29th, a 10-member team located and confronted the suspect who had been hiding under a fallen tree. The suspect pulled a gun from his shirt the law enforcement officers shot at the suspect, and ended the threat.
Deputy Sheriff Matt Williams was 39 years old, and Diogi was 3 years old at the time of their deaths.
An autopsy revealed that Williams had been shot 9 times, and his K-9 partner Diogi had been shot once in the chest.
