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Traffic stop erupts into confrontation in Lake Wales

Photo by Willie Hester

Police canine units were also called to help contain the scene during a traffic stop in Lake Wales Saturday afternoon.

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 8, 2009

Updated: 11/08/2009 05:11 pm

Related Links

• Lake Wales Police Department

Clifford Lorenzo Hart

Donovan Lamar Gray

Charles Lewis Hart

Ernest Hampton

TAMPA - A traffic stop in Lake Wales for tinted windows turned into an angry confrontation between police, deputies, state troopers and as many as 100 bystanders.

Two officers and one of the two people arrested were treated for minor injuries. Police are looking for three others in the incident, which started around 2:45 p.m. Saturday, the Lake Wales Police Department said.

Police gave this account:

An officer pulled over a car driven by Vincent Thomas at C Street and Dr. J.A. Wiltshire Avenue. He noticed Thomas eating marijuana, police said.

The officer attempted to arrest Thomas and he put up a struggle, attracting bystanders who started shouting profanities.

A safety cadet riding with the officer radioed for help and got out to tell the group to stand back. Police said bystander Donovan Gray punched the cadet in the chest.

As Thomas struggled, two passengers in the car grabbed the marijuana and ran off as back-up officers arrived. The crowd grew more agitated as Thomas was arrested, police said.

Gray punched one officer and fought with others as they tried to arrest him, police said. Police fired darts from an electronic stun device into Gray but a bystander yanked loose the darts, enabling him to continue fighting, police said.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers and Polk County Sheriff's deputies responded and helped disperse the crowd. Lake Wales police estimated that 75 to 100 people had gathered.

The confrontation ended about 4 p.m.

Police charged Thomas, 24, of Lake Wales with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, tampering with evidence and resisting arrest without violence.

Gray, 21, also of Lake Wales, was charged with battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence, police said.

Authorities are also looking for Charles Hart, 24, Clifford Hart, 24, and Ernest Hampton, 19, all from Lake Wales.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731.

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