UPDATE: (Nov. 15 6 p.m.) Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott released a statement to the press on Tuesday, Nov. 15 regarding the shooting that occurred off of Exit 123 on I-75 on Monday, Nov. 14.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office also sent a press release to local media on Nov. 15.
In the press release, it states that at 9:30 a.m. LCS Deputy Dean Bardes was helping the Florida Highway Patrol with a separate traffic accident on I-75 when Edward Strother, 53, entered the crash scene with his vehicle, almost striking Bardes with his car.
Bardes believed that Strother’s action was intentional, and proceeded to pursuit his vehicle southbound on I-75, as stated in the press release.
According to the press release, the chase ended at the southbound exit onto Corkscrew Road. Then, Strother exited his car and attacked Bardes, slamming him on the ground. Strother then pinned the Deputy to the ground and repeatedly attacked him.
An individual who witnessed the altercation went to the aid of Bardes. The individual, a concealed weapons permit holder, felt that the Deputy’s life was at stake, and fired their weapon at Strother, putting an end to the altercation, according to the press release.
At the time of the incident, Strother had an active misdemeanor arrest warrant for Failure to Appear on a Battery charge in Florida.
“I appreciate Dean’s courage, and I pray for his full recovery,” Scott said in a statement.
Check back with Eagle News for more on this developing story.
I-75 Exit 123 at Corkscrew Road is closed due to law enforcement activity.
Lee County Sheriff Department Lt. Jeff Detkas told the News-Press that one person is dead after an officer-involved shooting occurred on Monday, Nov. 14 on the southbound exit ramp.
The officer involved is injured and was taken to a nearby hospital. Detkas also told the News-Press that the officer has no life-threatening injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol is listing the incident as “major.”