A 19-year-old Florida man, Henry Maynard, was fatally shot by a Polk County Sheriff’s deputy after a bizarre and tragic sequence of events triggered by a melted Almond Joy candy bar.
Maynard’s grandmother had brought him the candy bar but found him asleep, leaving it on his laptop. When Maynard awoke to find the candy melted, he “went into a rage,” said Sheriff Grady Judd in a video statement. His response to the melted candy led to a series of increasingly erratic and violent actions.
A desperate drive
Maynard ran nearly a mile to his parents’ house, seized a car, and began driving despite not having a license or registration. Alarmed by his behaviour, his grandmother immediately called Maynard’s parents to warn them. As the situation developed, Maynard’s parents and a sheriff’s deputy converged near Oakwood Estates in Winter Haven. Sheriff Judd described Maynard’s actions as “out of control,” highlighting the escalating danger.
Escalation and tragic conclusion
Maynard called 911, declaring his intention to commit a crime. True to his word, he reversed his car, striking his grandmother, and then accelerated forward, crashing into the deputy’s vehicle in a T-bone collision. A witness described his behavior as “like a madman” as he attempted to enter the police vehicle, even climbing inside. The chaos reached a critical point, and Deputy Christian Quattlebaum was compelled to shoot Maynard, who died at the scene. Despite his father’s desperate efforts to perform CPR, Maynard could not be revived.
Prior run-ins with the law
This tragic event was not Maynard’s first encounter with law enforcement. He had previously been arrested for aggravated battery against a law enforcement officer, painting a troubled history that preceded the fatal incident.
Aftermath and investigation
Maynard’s 81-year-old grandmother, who suffered a broken arm in the incident, is currently recovering in the hospital in stable condition. The deputy involved received medical treatment for injuries sustained during the confrontation. The 10th Judicial Circuit’s Officer Involved Deadly Incident (OIDI) Task Force is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident to ensure all aspects are carefully reviewed and understood.
The community is grappling with the shocking nature of the events, questioning how a simple piece of candy could lead to such a tragic outcome. Sheriff Judd emphasized the unpredictable nature of human behavior and the critical need for law enforcement to respond swiftly to protect lives. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the volatile and sometimes tragic consequences of untreated emotional and psychological issues, urging a broader conversation on mental health and community safety.
