"Wanted" Lakeland suspect dies during standoff with Polk SWAT team in North Lakeland

A Lakeland man is dead after a standoff with a Polk County sheriff's SWAT team in North Lakeland on Thursday night.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office said it received a tip that a wanted suspect, 44-year-old Matthew Bruce Coleman, was in the area of West Socrum Loop Road about 7 p.m. Thursday. Coleman had an active warrant out for his arrest and was wanted as a suspect in other crimes, according to the Sheriff's Office.

"The tip we received last night was that he was armed and threatening to injure any law enforcement officers who came looking for him," said a statement from the Sheriff's Office.

When Polk deputies arrived at the scene, several individuals said Coleman was possibly in a backyard shed. The deputies announced their presence and immediately had several gunshots fired in their direction, coming from the shed. No one was injured.

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Deputies established a perimeter around the shed and communicated with Coleman, who repeatedly refused to surrender, according to the Sheriff's Office. Polk's SWAT and Crisis Negotiation teams were called to the scene.

Coleman stopped communicating with law enforcement, the Sheriff's Office said, and a chemical agent deployed in the shed. When deputies entered, they found Coleman was dead.

Coleman died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Sheriff's Office said. He had two loaded handguns with him in the shed with several spent casings.

The Sheriff's Office is processing the scene and has an ongoing investigation.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: "Wanted" Lakeland suspect dies during standoff with Polk SWAT team in North Lakeland