Hundreds Attend Memorial For Rookie Polk Deputy Killed In Line Of Duty

LAKELAND, FL — Victory Church was standing-room-only Tuesday as first responders from throughout Florida converged on North Lakeland to pay their respects to a 21-year-old Mulberry native who died while living his dream to be a sheriff's deputy.

Outside Victory Church, the solemn memorial service for Polk County sheriff's Deputy Blane Lane included full law enforcement honors including a helicopter flyover, the release of doves, a riderless horse, a three-shot volley, the last radio call, the playing of taps and bagpipes, and the presentation of the flag.

Although Lane only got to do the job he dreamed of doing for 8 1/2 months, "he left a lifetime of honor and respect for the county and community he loved," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. "I never thought I'd have to say goodbye to him."

Judd said he had his photo taken with Blane at church when he was about 4 years old.

"Even then, he wanted to be a deputy and one day the sheriff," Judd said.

Lane was also in a fifth-grade class at Scott Lake Elementary that Judd addressed. Lane has kept a photo from that day along with a written declaration that he would become a Polk County sheriff's deputy.

Lane's parents told Judd that he actually studied the sheriff.

"His mom told me that he knew more about me than I know about myself," Judd said. "Blane would watch my press conferences and quote my lines. He told everyone he was gonna be a deputy sheriff and, one day, he was going to be the sheriff."

While attending the Polk State College law enforcement-detention academy, Lane would practice handcuffing all his family members. When his sister protested, he told her, "Well, stop resisting," Judd said.

"I just hope he and pray he isn't trying to handcuff Jesus," Judd joked.

See related story: Polk Deputy, 21, Killed By Stray Bullet Shot By Fellow Deputy

The rookie patrol deputy died Oct. 4 at Lakeland Regional Health Center after being accidentally shot while serving a felony warrant with three other deputies.

At 2:07 a.m., a call came into the Crime Stoppers tip line reporting that Cheryl Lynn Williams, 45, who had an outstanding warrant against her for failing to show up to court on a methamphetamine possession charge, could be found at a mobile home at 4345 Foxtown S in Polk City.

Williams previously served nine years of an 11-year Florida state prison sentence for trafficking methamphetamine and has 11 felony and four misdemeanor arrests.

Polk County sheriff's Sgt. Michael Brooks, and Deputies Johnny Holsonback III, Adam Pennell and Lane arrived at the mobile home at 3:08 a.m. to arrest Williams and were greeted at the front door by two men who said Williams could be found around back.

The deputies went to the back door of the mobile home where they encountered a third man who said, "She's in here," inviting the deputies in.

Following protocol, Brooks, Holsonback and Pennell went inside while Lane took up a tactical position outside the trailer where he could see the front door in case Williams decided to run but could not be seen by those inside the mobile home.

Judd said the three other deputies entered a game room in the mobile home where they saw a meth pipe, an open can of lite beer and a Bible open to 2 Kings, Chapter 21, in which God decides to bring Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind.

The deputies initially didn't see anyone in the room. Then Williams stepped into view, pointing a gun at the deputies. Holsonback and Brooks fired their service revolvers an estimated six times. Williams was struck twice and fell to the floor, Judd said.

At the same time, said Judd, Lane called out that he'd been shot in the arm. One of the bullets fired by the deputies toward Williams had gone through the wall of the mobile home, striking Lane in the shoulder. The bullet then entered his chest cavity.

During his remarks at the memorial service, Judd made it clear that the deputies accompanying Lane on the fateful call were in no way to blame for Lane's death.

"They were set up for a surprise attack by a drug-infested, nasty, evil person who pointed a gun directly at their face to make them believe their death was imminent," Judd said. "Let me be clear. My deputies did exactly what they should have done, what they're trained to do and exactly what I expected them to do in that perilous second to protect their very lives. Tragically, Deputy Blane Lane lost his life in that necessary gunfire. Listen closely, there is one person, and only one person, to blame for Deputy Blane Lane's death."

Born on Jan. 12, 2001, in Brandon, Lane graduated from Mulberry High School where he played football and golf, and was active in Future Farmers of America. According to Lane's family, his favorite pastimes included going to the shooting range, fishing, hunting, golf, baseball and football. He also had a heart of gold. He often brought home abandoned dogs and was always giving money to people in need.

Lane graduated from the academy in September 2020 and worked as a detention deputy. Then the day he'd dreamed about his entire life came on Jan. 18 when Judd swore him in as a deputy and Lane was assigned to the Northwest District Office as a patrol deputy.

Lane is survived by his 3-year-old daughter, Kate Lane; his stepson, Trace “Timmy” Wood; parents, Shellie and Wayne Lane; sister, Maddix Lane; grandparents, Darrel and Debbie Sodders, Kathy Stader, Elizabeth and Charlie Jones; his cousin and best friend, Brady Patisaul; as well as his extended family and many friends.

Click here to share a memory of Lane.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has charged Williams with 13 felonies in Lane's death including:

• Second-degree murder of a law enforcement officer
• Three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer
• Three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
• Three counts of resisting arrest
• Threecounts of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon
• Possession of methamphetamine.

She will be booked into the Polk County Jail upon her release from the hospital, where she remains in stable condition.

During a search of the mobile home that Williams shared with two others, deputies found the following firearms openly displayed on a gun rack attached to the wall in the hallway:

• A Marlin model 99M1 .22-caliber rifle with scope with one live round in the chamber and seven rounds in the magazine tube
• A Connecticut Valley Arms Inc. single-shot 12-gauge shotgun
• A bolt-action 410-gauge shotgun with one live round in the chamber

Deputies arrested the two convicted felons living with Williams: Donald Mathis, DOB 8/11/50 and Joseph Larry Albritton, Jr., DOB 9/18/67, on three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, five counts of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and Albritton was also charged with violation of probation.

Mathis was additionally charged with possession of meth and possession of paraphernalia after detectives found a small plastic baggie in his bedroom with a substance that tested positive for meth, along with three boxes of ammunition.

Mathis' criminal history includes 13 felonies and 11 misdemeanors. He spent 1 1/2 years in state prison for cocaine possession. He's had numerous arrests since 1991 on charges including possession of cocaine with intent to sell, grand theft, battery, DUI and petit theft.

Albritton's criminal history includes eight felonies and 22 misdemeanors. Since 1986 he's been arrested multiple times, charged with aggravated battery, battery domestic violence, resisting arrest, trespassing, DUI, possession of meth and marijuana, driving with a suspended license and tampering with a witness.