Grady Judd: Polk County man accused of shooting into neighbor’s home overdoses during SWAT standoff

LAKELAND, Fla. - A dispute between neighbors over one not lighting a cigarette for the other early Wednesday morning led to shots fired and a man dying during a standoff with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, according to Sheriff Grady Judd.

Judd said Thomas England, 40, went to his neighbor’s home around 2:30 a.m. because he needed a light for his cigarette.

Judd added that the pair got into an argument, so England left, grabbed a shotgun, and fired shots into the neighbor’s home.

The sheriff’s office was contacted and Judd said two of England’s relatives exited his home, but he refused to come out and barricaded himself inside.

READ: Grady Judd says teen accused of murdering his mother also killed his father: 'Violent predator'

According to Judd, this was not the first time England barricaded himself inside the home.

Judd said in 2018 deputies tried to get him out of the house and England said, "Tell Grady he better bring his tank and his helicopter because I’m going to take the kids with me when I go."

In 2021, Judd said England threatened suicide by cop.

"We know he has an arsenal in there," Judd stated. "We know he has a sawed-off shotgun. We know he’s already fired a shot into his neighbor’s home, so he is wanted for more serious charges."
Judd said the SWAT team went to the home and put gas inside, but he wouldn’t come out. He added that they also tried to poke a hole in the house to locate him, but ended up going inside the home.

According to Judd, when law enforcement officers went inside the home they found England dead on the floor with a shotgun. However, there was no evidence he had been shot. Judd said he apparently overdosed and added England had a history of overdosing.

"We obviously did not shoot him. We don’t see any indication that he shot himself. It appears to be an overdose and that’s the reason he didn’t come out if he was inclined to come out. However, he had a history of not coming out, making us come in," Judd shared.

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