Man hit by car while attacked during argument in Polk County, deputies say

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – A Polk County man is accused of trying to mug a group of people in the Lakeland area during an argument Sunday afternoon.

Gage Dennis, 19, and Andrew LaPorte were involved in an argument with another group of people in the area of ​​Central Avenue Southeast and 3rd Avenue Southeast. Dennis drove the car toward the group of four people, hitting one of them, officials said. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, LaPorte got out of the car and attacked the person who was hit.

Dennis crawled under a nearby house and removed the floorboards to enter the house to evade officers.

The person struck by the car suffered minor injuries, officials said.

Dennis was charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder, burglary, criminal coercion and resisting arrest. LaPorte was charged with assault and probation violation.