Category: police and crime

Central Florida Women Team Up To Save Elderly Woman From Vicious Dog Attack – Brandon, Florida

According to Hillsborough County Animal Control, the victim sustained multiple lacerations and deep puncture wounds to both her right and left upper and lower legs, lower right arm, wrist and hand.

Two Pit Bull Terriers had the woman on the ground viciously attacking her.  One with its teeth locked onto the woman’s leg, the other biting and pulling her arm.  Grabbing their pistols, they ran to the elderly woman’s aid.

April 29, 2024

Busy in her kitchen preparing dinner, Cierra Medina’s evening was shattered by screams for help coming from the street in front of her home.

Looking out her kitchen window, Cierra saw her 72-year-old neighbor on the ground being viciously attacked by two Pit Bull Terriers. Shouting to her husband to watch her 8-month-old daughter, Cierra rushed out the front door of her home, with her Taurus 9mm in hand.

Screaming at the dogs to ‘STOP‘ and running up to the victim, who had one dog attached to her left arm and another with its jaws firmly locked onto her right leg, Cierra fired a shot into the ground hoping to scare the dogs and stop the attack. Regrettably, that did not occur. The dog clenched onto the woman’s arm, released its bite and backed off, but did not flee. The second dog with its grip on the woman’s leg was not deterred.

Cierra was then joined by her aunt Kristy Parks, who lives across the street.

Hearing the victim’s screams from inside her house, Kristy grabbed her Ruger LCP .380 and rushed out to join Cierra and assist the woman on the ground being mauled by the two dogs.

Cierra attempted to fire a second round at the dog that would not release its grip on the victim’s leg, only to discover her gun had jammed. Kristy then fired one round from her Ruger LCP .380, loaded with jacketed hollow points, striking the dog in the frontal chest. The dog remained unfazed and continued to bite and pull at the victim’s leg. Kristy fired again, striking the dog the second time broadside in the chest, causing it to release its grip and retreat.

While Kristy kept the dogs at bay, holding them at gunpoint, prepared to fire again, Cierra assisted the victim in crawling on her hands, elbows and knees to the front door of her home and inside to safety, leaving a trail of blood on the driveway sidewalk and porch.

With Kristy holding her gun on the two growling and snapping dogs, Cierra helped the victim into the house. The victim covered with blood, bleeding profusely from both her right arm and both her right and left leg. Cierra quickly administered what aid she could, fashioning improvised tourniquets in an attempt to control the bleeding.

During the commotion and hearing the gunshots, other neighbors appeared on the scene and called 911, while Kristy and Cierra rendered aid to their injured neighbor. Upon the arrival of EMS and a quick initial examination, the victim was immediately transported to Tampa General Hospital Trauma Center for treatment.

According to a written report by the Hillsborough County Animal Control, the victim sustained multiple lacerations and deep puncture wounds to both her right and left upper and lower legs, lower right arm, wrist and hand, which included “significant” tendon and arterial damage.

The wounded dog was euthanized on the scene by Hillsborough County animal control officers, after having been tased several times in an attempt to control it. The other dog was taken into custody and transported to Hillsborough County animal control.

The WFLA News Channel 8 – Tampa, FL news broadcast can be viewed HERE.

Florida, Brandon, Hillsborough County, pit bull, dog attack, animal attack, gun, pistol, GLOCK, Taurus, Kristy Parks, Cierra Medina

Lessons To Be Learned:

  • Gun readily available
  • Reliable, good quality firearm
  • Sufficient caliber to neutralize threat
  • Putting shots on target
  • Situational awareness
  • Mental preparedness

Nationwide, national concealed carry reciprocity moves closer to becoming a reality

Appearing on Fox News Friday, April 11, 2025 . . . .

Nationwide concealed carry reciprocity takes another step closer to becoming a reality. Congressman Richard Hudson appeared on Fox News, Friday, April 11, 2025 . . . .

Appearing on Fox News, Friday, April 11, 2025

Police Chief Calls for Gun Safety Training Following Child’s Death, 2nd In As Many Months – Davenport, Florida

Law enforcement is calling for tighter gun safety, as it’s the second such death in Polk County this year.

Free child safety gun locks available from In-Gauge of Polk County. Simply send an email request to: in-gauge@ingaugeofpolkcounty.com

A 4-year-old Davenport boy has died of a self-inflicted gunshot after finding a firearm in his family’s car Friday night. Law enforcement is calling for tighter gun safety, as it’s the second such death in Polk County this year.

Police Chief Steven Parker said Chosen’s death should serve as a “stark reminder” of best practices and gun safety for firearm owners.

The firearm in the Morris family’s vehicle was legally owned by Robert Morris, who Parker said told police he owned it for personal safety on his travel to and from work.

Robert Morris told detectives he usually takes the firearm out of the car on Thursday nights when he arrives home from work, and securely stores it in his bedroom.

“He forgot. He simply forgot,” the chief said. “He forgot Thursday, this happens Friday.”

Parker said gun owners need to know exactly where their firearms are at all times, and make sure they are secure when not in their immediate possession.

This is the second child, self-inflicted, accidental gunshot death in Polk County, Florida in as many months.

6-year-old Major Smith died of an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound January 9, 2025, in Lakeland, Florida, by a gun he found in his parent’s car.

Major Smith died Tuesday at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, two days after he found a gun in a car outside his residence on West Crawford Street and accidentally shot himself, Lakeland police said.

In-Gauge of Polk County, a private, non-profit organization, Winter Haven, Florida, has FREE child safety gun locks to Polk County residents, available for the asking. Polk County residents need only send an email request to receive a free gun lock.

To receive a free gun lock by mail, simply send an email request to: in-gauge@ingaugeofpolkcounty.com

FREE Child Safety Gun Locks Available Through In-Gauge of Polk County

In-Gauge of Polk County, of Winter Haven, Florida is offering FREE child safety gun locks to Polk County residents who request them. To receive a FREE child safety gun lock, simply complete and submit the form below:

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Conditions:

  • Gun locks available to Polk County residents only
  • One gun lock per household (mailing address)
  • Gun locks will be shipped by US Mail

If you are looking for unequaled firearms training, for either personal development or to qualify for a Florida concealed carry weapons license, contact us.

For unequaled firearms training that suits your needs, visit our website at:  www.ingaugeofpolkcounty.com

In-Gauge Conducts Youth Gun Safety Class at Liberty Link 360, Bartow, Florida

At the invitation of the Liberty Link Foundation 360, Bartow, Florida, In-Gauge of Polk County, a private, non-profit organization, chartered by the National Rifle Association, conducted a free youth gun safety class, for the participants of Liberty Link 360’s summer youth program. The class was conducted Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at the Liberty Link Foundation 360, facility in Bartow, Florida.

Recognizing the alarming rise of accidental child shootings, the Liberty Link Foundation 360 invited In-Gauge of Polk County to educate the teenage participants of its summer youth program on gun safety.

Using an audio visual presentation and physical props In-Gauge emphasized the importance of gun safety.

The overall message was: If you are not authorized and trained in the use of a gun, don’t touch it and always assume that every gun is loaded.

At the completion of the presentation, each participant was issued with a gun safety lock to accompany their certificate of training.

In-Gauge of Polk County routinely conducts gun safety training classes for the public and child gun safety seminars throughout the year, making available free gun locks to the public. The locks are provided through the generosity of local businesses that are concerned with child gun safety.

In 2023, In-Gauge of Polk County distributed over 500 gun locks, free to the public. In-Gauge of Polk County relies solely on the financial generosity of local businesses to fund its child gun safety program.

For information on how to donate to In-Gauge of Polk County’s child gun safety gun lock program, call 863-206-1996 or send an email inquiry to: robert_admin@ingaugepolkcounty.org

Winter Haven Group Recognizes Women for Their Quick and Decisive Action in Saving Elderly Woman from Vicious Multiple Dog Attack

Arming themselves, the 2 women rushed to the aid of an elderly woman being viciously mauled by two pit bull terriers.

In-Gauge of Polk County, in Winter Haven, Florida recognized two women for their quick and decisive actions that saved the life of a 72-year-old woman, who was being viciously attacked by two pit bull terriers, at its monthly meeting, Tuesday, May 14th.

The incident occurred the evening of April 29th, in Brandon, Florida.  While in her kitchen, preparing dinner, Cierra Medina heard screaming coming from the street in front of her house.  Looking out the kitchen window, Cierra saw her 72-year-old neighbor on the ground being attacked by two pit bull terriers.  One dog biting and tugging at the woman’s left arm the other clamped on to the woman’s right leg, pulling in the opposite direction.

Retrieving her 9mm pistol, Cierra rushed out the front door of her house to the woman’s aid, firing one round into the ground, hoping to frighten the dogs into releasing their grip on the victim.  Regrettably, the dogs were undeterred and continued to attack the woman.  Attempting to fire another round, Cierra discovered her gun had jammed.

It was then Cierra was joined by Kristy Parks, who lives across the street and also responded to the screams for help.  Kristy, armed with a .380 took aim and fired one round, point-blank, into the larger, more aggressive dog’s frontal chest.  The dog was unaffected.  As the dog turned, pulling backward on the woman’s thigh, Kristy fired a second shot broadside into the dog’s chest.  Being struck a second time, the dog broke its grip and backed off.  Both dogs stood back growling at the two rescuers.

As Kristy held the dogs at gunpoint, prepared to fire again, Cierra assisted the victim inside a chain-link fence and gate.  With all three safely inside the closed gate, Cierra helped the victim into her home where Cierra administered first aid until law enforcement and EMS arrived.  The victim was transported to Tampa Regional Hospital Trauma Center for the treatment of her injuries.

Cierra and Kristy were each presented with Citizen Hero Awards, a STOP THE BLEED emergency blood loss control kit and a gift certificate from the Wild West Arms Gun Store, for the replacement of the two guns confiscated by law enforcement as evidence.

Cierra and Kristy received official STOP THE BLEED training and were certified during Tuesday evening’s meeting.

May is National STOP THE BLEED Month.  Being a licensed STOP THE BLEED training provider, In-Gauge of Polk County conducts free, open-to-the-public STOP THE BLEED training clinics throughout the year.

Up date: The victim has been released from Tampa Regional Hospital and will remain confined to a wheelchair and has lost mobility of her right arm, due to nerve damage sustained in the dog attack. The dog owner was issued a fine by Hillsborough County Animal Control, with other charges pending by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

* The victim’s name is kept anonymous under Florida’s Marsy’s Law.

Florida Women Team Up To Save Elderly Woman From Vicious Dog Attack – Brandon, Florida

According to Hillsborough County Animal Control, the victim sustained multiple lacerations and deep puncture wounds to both her right and left upper and lower legs, lower right arm, wrist and hand.

Two Pit Bull Terriers had the woman on the ground viciously attacking her.  One with its teeth locked onto the woman’s leg, the other biting and pulling her arm.  Grabbing their pistols, they ran to the elderly woman’s aid.

April 29, 2024

Busy in her kitchen preparing dinner, Cierra Medina’s evening was shattered by screams for help coming from the street in front of her home.

Looking out her kitchen window, Cierra saw her 72-year-old neighbor on the ground being viciously attacked by two Pit Bull Terriers. Shouting to her husband to watch her 8-month-old daughter, Cierra rushed out the front door of her home, with her Taurus 9mm in hand.

Screaming at the dogs to ‘STOP‘ and running up to the victim, who had one dog attached to her left arm and another with its jaws firmly locked onto her right leg, Cierra fired a shot into the ground hoping to scare the dogs and stop the attack. Regrettably, that did not occur. The dog clenched onto the woman’s arm, released its bite and backed off, but did not flee. The second dog with its grip on the woman’s leg was not deterred.

Cierra was then joined by her aunt Kristy Parks, who lives across the street.

Hearing the victim’s screams from inside her house, Kristy grabbed her Ruger LCP .380 and rushed out to join Cierra and assist the woman on the ground being mauled by the two dogs.

Cierra attempted to fire a second round at the dog that would not release its grip on the victim’s leg, only to discover her gun had jammed. Kristy then fired one round from her Ruger LCP .380, loaded with jacketed hollow points, striking the dog in the frontal chest. The dog remained unfazed and continued to bite and pull at the victim’s leg. Kristy fired again, striking the dog the second time broadside in the chest, causing it to release its grip and retreat.

While Kristy kept the dogs at bay, holding them at gunpoint, prepared to fire again, Cierra assisted the victim in crawling on her hands, elbows and knees to the front door of her home and inside to safety, leaving a trail of blood on the driveway sidewalk and porch.

With Kristy holding her gun on the two growling and snapping dogs, Cierra helped the victim into the house. The victim covered with blood, bleeding profusely from both her right arm and both her right and left leg. Cierra quickly administered what aid she could, fashioning improvised tourniquets in an attempt to control the bleeding.

During the commotion and hearing the gunshots, other neighbors appeared on the scene and called 911, while Kristy and Cierra rendered aid to their injured neighbor. Upon the arrival of EMS and a quick initial examination, the victim was immediately transported to Tampa General Hospital Trauma Center for treatment.

According to a written report by the Hillsborough County Animal Control, the victim sustained multiple lacerations and deep puncture wounds to both her right and left upper and lower legs, lower right arm, wrist and hand, which included “significant” tendon and arterial damage.

The wounded dog was euthanized on the scene by Hillsborough County animal control officers, after having been tased several times in an attempt to control it. The other dog was taken into custody and transported to Hillsborough County animal control.

There will be a ceremony recognizing Kristy and Cierra for their selfless, heroic actions Tuesday evening, May 14th, at 3812 Cypress Gardens Road, Winter Haven, FL beginning at 6:30 PM. The public is invited. Seating is limited.

The WFLA News Channel 8 – Tampa, FL news broadcast can be viewed HERE.

Florida, Brandon, Hillsborough County, pit bull, dog attack, animal attack, gun, pistol, GLOCK, Taurus, Kristy Parks, Cierra Medina