A chaotic fight erupted among a group of swimmers on a Florida lake over the weekend, with one man ending up unconscious in the water.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident unfolded in front of children playing on the beach at Lake Winterset.
Seven men and a 17-year-old were arrested, as Sheriff Grady Judd stated on Tuesday, promising to hold them accountable.
Footage shows one man being struck twice before collapsing, leading to further chaos as others joined in.
Punches were thrown all around while a woman in a pink bikini attempted CPR on the unconscious man.
One tall man wearing a large gold chain tried to break up the fight but was largely unsuccessful, as the brawlers toppled into the water.
Mason Rand, Nate Rand, Payton Ely, Timothy Gooding, Richard Calden, Garrett Ole, Garrett Hiltvidell, and the unnamed teenager face multiple charges, including violent conduct and disorderly behavior. Most of the men are in their late teens and twenties, with Calden being the exception at 40.
The sheriff emphasized a crackdown on lawlessness in the county, particularly concerning issues at the Winterset Sandbar.
“You can create serious harm to each other and cause disruption,” said Judd. “I’ve made that clear.”
He condemned the behavior and mentioned that prior warnings had gone unheeded, indicating a pattern of disruptive activities, including indecent acts reported by locals.
In May, the Polk County Commission approved an ordinance aimed at restricting boaters from certain shorelines, with plans underway for implementation after state approval.
Following the altercation, Judd mentioned consulting with county attorneys about potentially imposing stricter noise regulations on the lake.
Lake Winterset is located just a couple of miles from Legoland Florida, a theme park inspired by popular children’s toys.
