Police present bodycam footage after armed‑disturbance call; child briefly seen on ground

Winter Haven City police officials on a recorded briefing described their response to an armed‑disturbance call at Santiago's Market that moved to a nearby parking area and the American Legion, showing body‑camera video in which a child is seen on the ground as officers took a person into custody.

The police spokesperson said officers responded to a 911 dispatch that initially described an armed robbery and provided a vehicle description, later identifying a red Nissan Altima. “The call originally came out as an armed robber with a firearm,” the police spokesperson said, adding that dispatch later reclassified the call to an armed disturbance. The spokesperson said four officers first arrived in the area and that a K‑9 officer gave the initial commands during the encounter.

The police spokesperson walked officials and the public through multiple video angles. In one clip the spokesperson said a man later identified in the video as the companion of the woman involved—referred to in the briefing as “Mr. Hercules”—pulled and racked a firearm twice before putting it back in his pocket. The spokesperson said officers did not observe the firearm being pointed at the child or mother and that, from their perspective, the firearm was held with the muzzle pointed downward.

Why the child was left on the ground for any period drew the most attention. The police spokesperson acknowledged the optics were troubling and said officers “did everything within our policies. I acknowledge that.” The spokesperson also noted training and policy review would follow: command and training staff will examine the incident and adjust quarterly training to better address custody and care of children present during arrests.

A member of the city’s elected leadership, identified in the briefing as City Commissioner (unnamed), said after reviewing the footage that they were relieved by how officers handled the incident but remained concerned about the child’s experience. “I am relieved that our police department handled this particular situation with the utmost of care, professionalism, and dignity,” the commissioner said, while also noting the child’s apparent fear—heard on video as the child saying “please don’t kill us”—is a broader societal problem.

Officials said the mother and child were released shortly after officers reviewed available footage and further investigation. The police spokesperson said the employee who originally placed the call did not want to cooperate with charges, but investigators submitted the case to the State Attorney’s Office for review; the spokesperson said the State Attorney could still decide to file charges.

Officials also said they are seeking additional camera angles and evidence that could clarify whether other parties displayed a knife or made gestures that prompted the companion to draw his firearm. The spokesperson said that while it is possible more video exists, the initial dispatch language—reporting a black male with a firearm—heightened the officers’ response.

The briefing closed with officials saying they will keep engaging community leaders and clergy and will follow up with training and policy review. No formal policy changes were announced at the briefing.