April 28--WINTER HAVEN, FL-- A battalion chief with Polk County Fire Rescue was taken to the hospital after Polk County sheriff's deputies said a Lake Wales man bit him twice on the arm in the same place Tuesday.
Kevin Shireman was taken to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center with injuries to his arm, "causing permanent disfigurement," according to a Polk County Sheriff's Office report.
Breonski Gardner, 26, was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer and threatening a public servant, the report said.
"The support and encouragement I've received throughout this process has been overwhelming and I'm grateful," Shireman said a statement. "As you know, I have a very serious arm and leg injury. I don’t know how long my recovery will take, but I have amazing doctors, nurses and other professionals taking care of me. As soon as I recover, I plan to be back on the job serving Polk County. But before I can get back to work, my wife and doctors tell me I need to focus on my recovery. My family and I appreciate your prayers."
Deputies reported that Gardner was walking in the road after a crash on Thornhill Road about 9 p.m. when they asked him for his driver's license. Gardner threw his keys at a deputy, hitting him in the chest and said, "It's in the car find it yourself mother----."
When Gardner became aggressive, deputies and fire officials wrestled him to the ground. Deputies used a Taser on Gardner's waist and were able to handcuff him, according to the PCSO report. During the struggle, Shireman was bitten on the arm.
Before Gardner entered the cruiser, deputies attempted to place additional restraints on him. Gardner began to kick, and deputies and Shireman fell to the ground, deputies reported.
"As we went to the ground I heard Kevin Shireman screaming," sheriff's Deputy John Skinner wrote. "When he stood up his arm was covered in blood."
"The suspect bit the same arm and took a chunk of skin off," Skinner wrote.
Shireman walked to the ambulance as deputies restrained Gardner, according to the report. Gardner was taken to Bartow Memorial Hospital.
At the hospital in Bartow, Gardner continued to cause problems, attempting to bite a deputy's fingers and then threatening the deputy's family, the report said.
He told sheriff's Deputy Jonathan Franklin he planned to shoot him in the back of the head while he was eating at Outback, according to a sheriff's office report.
He also said he planned to rape Franklin's wife and child, then kill the two, the PCSO said.
At one point, Gardner freed himself from a restraint and began thrashing his legs. His knee slammed into Franklin's eye, causing pain and swelling, according to the report.
-- John Chambliss can be reached at 863-802-7588. Follow him on Twitter @ledgerCity.
___ (c)2017 The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.) Visit The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.) at www.theledger.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
