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Highlands Today

Sebring Police Come Under Fire

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: October 4, 2008

SEBRING - No one was hit after seven or eight shots were fired at three Sebring police officers shortly after midnight Friday, as they spoke with each other at Orange Blossom Avenue and First Street in the Highlands Homes subdivision.

Police Sgt. Greg Barlaug reported that he had just completed a traffic stop at that location and was speaking with Cpl. Mike Cutolo and Officer Brett Hinkle when the shots were fired in their direction.

"The shots came from the area of Orange Blossom Avenue and Fifth Street," Barlaug reported. "We saw muzzle blasts from the firearm as it was discharging and we heard the rounds striking the tree limbs above our head and the roadway near our cars."

One of the rounds or a ricochet shattered the rear windshield of one of the Sebring police cars. The three police officers were standing about three feet away, the report stated.

They took cover behind their patrol cars and radioed the situation in to the sheriff's central dispatch.

Police and sheriff's units arrived and saturated the area setting up a perimeter, but it appears the shooter or shooters slipped through.

Six Highlands County sheriff's units responded to the call for help, according to sheriff's Capt. Paul Blackman, including a lieutenant, a sergeant, two K-9 units and two patrol deputies.

Deputy Wayne Gunn and his K-9 partner Sarge and Deputy William Gentry and his K-9 partner Roni began a track of the suspect or suspects. The track led into an orange grove, went full circle and exited at Orange Blossom and Sixth Street.

The track ended abruptly. Shoe impressions were found in the orange grove. Police found shoe impressions and spent rounds at Orange Blossom Avenue and Fifth Street.

Two witnesses both told police investigators that they were sitting nearby and that one of them saw a subject leave the wooded area from the orange grove and that the subject began shooting down the road toward the police cars.

Another witness thought there were two subjects.

Police Cmdr. Steve Carr said they were not answering additional questions as the case remained under investigation.

Sebring police asked that anyone with information contact the Sebring Police Department at 471-5108 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.

Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com .

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