Polk firefighter recovering after man bites him twice

A Polk County Fire Rescue battalion chief is recovering this week after being bitten on the arm by a suspect involved in a car crash near Winter Haven.

Kevin Shireman, EMT Gilbert Thomas and Polk County deputies responded to a traffic accident on Thornhill Road near Moonlite Pass about 8:40 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest affidavit.

When Deputy John Skinner approached, the car’s driver, Breonski Gardner, 26, of Lake Wales was uncooperative, according to the affidavit. When Skinner and Deputy Jonathan Franklin tried to arrest Gardner, he resisted; Shireman and Thomas tried to restrain him. Skinner said he used a Taser, and they were able to handcuff him but during the struggle, Gardner bit Shireman’s forearm twice between his elbow to his wrist.

Shireman was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Franklin said in an affidavit that Gardner tried to bite his fingers as well, both during the altercation, and later at the hospital. He said that Gardner threatened him and his family and broke free of his “soft leg restraints” and thrust his knee into Franklin’s right eye. Gardner was charged with battery on a law-enforcement officer, aggravated battery on a firefighter or emergency medical personnel and resisting an officer with violence.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd praised Shireman on Friday for stepping in to help and said he would have to go through skingrafting procedures to heal from his severe injuries.

Shireman issued a statement saying he and his family appreciated the prayers and good thoughts being sent his way.

“The support and encouragement I’ve received throughout this process has been overwhelming, and I’m grateful,” he said. “As you know, I have a very serious arm and leg injury. I don’t know how long my recovery will take, but I have amazing doctors, nurses and other professionals taking care of me. As soon as I recover, I plan to be back on the job serving Polk County. But before I can get back to work, my wife and doctors tell me I need to focus on my recovery.”