MULBERRY -- One man is hospitalized and another is in jail after they were shot by Polk County deputies early Friday morning.
Polk Sheriff Grady Judd says the incident began in Bowling Green, in Hardee County, when police in that city interrupted what they say was an armed burglary at a storage unit. They pursued a car into Polk County and asked for backup from the Polk Sheriff's Office. The pursuit was approximately 20 miles long. The car entered Mulberry and turned into an industrial park off State Road 60. Deputies set up stop sticks twice. Judd says the men circled the complex, trying to find a way out, and turned to deliberately drive at one of the deputies, Lieutenant William Strickland. Three deputies fired at the car, leading it to crash.
The driver, 27-year-old James Hilburn Jr. of Riverview, was struck in the head and grazed in the legs. He's in critical condition and a medically induced coma as of Friday morning. The passenger, 25-year-old Justin Norris of Dover, was hit in the legs and arms, treated, released, and sent to jail. Judd says both men had outstanding warrants.
According to Judd, Hilburn;s criminal history includes six felonies and five misdemeanors. he had outstanding warrants for two counts of aggravated assault, robbery, petit theft and battery domestic violence. Norris had warrants from Hillsborough County for grand theft. Both men had warrants for failure to appear in court on previous charges. Norris spent three years and nine months in state prison for burglary, grand theft with a firearm, and dealing in stolen property.
Judd says deputies found a .380 Ruger handgun with an extended magazine attached, in the car.
Photo: PCSO/Canva