POLK COUNTY, Florida — Nearly 18 months ago, two Polk County (Florida) deputies were “ambushed” and shot by a sovereign citizen, leaving them both with serious injuries.

Deputy Craig Smith and Lieutenant Chad Anderson are alive “by the grace of God,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in the days after the shooting.

Smith returned to full duty six months after the shooting, and on Thursday — more than a year later — Anderson was officially welcomed back to work for the first time. 

The sheriff’s office posted a video on social media, showing deputies and other law enforcement officials, including Sheriff Grady Judd, giving their applause as Anderson entered the room. For now, he’ll be on “light duty” work.

“Even though it’s not all the way there, I’m glad to be back. Definitely blessed,” Anderson said while speaking to other members of the agency.

“That night, you and your team stood in the gap between good and evil. As a result of that, no one else was hurt,” Judd said in the video. “It’s a blessing. There’s a reason why when I go to bed at night, I pray for all the deputies. When I wake up in the morning, I pray for all the deputies, because we’re out there dealing with the unknown.”

It all started around 12:30 a.m. on April 27, 2024, in Lakeland’s Hunt Fountain Park. A deputy was patrolling the area after reports of teen burglaries when she saw a man sitting in a white Mercedes Benz and asked him why he was there. He reportedly refused to respond or get out of the car. 

Judd said at the time the man, identified as a 26-year-old Moorish Sovereign Citizen who went by the name Kmac El Bey, was “dressed in all white as if he were in some kind of religious or cult garb.” 

The deputy called for backup and seven deputies, including Anderson and Smith responded. The two deputies approached El Bey, whose given name was Kyran Caples, when he tried to drive away. 

Deputies grabbed the car window and then El Bey started shooting, Judd said. 

Anderson was shot in his left arm and the bullet went into his chest cavity, lodging between his heart and spinal column. Judd said Anderson was “fractions of an inch” away from being paralyzed or killed. 

Smith was shot twice in his right arm. 

Other responding deputies returned fire, ultimately killing El Bey. 

Both Smith and Anderson underwent multiple, “extensive” surgeries for their critical injuries as well as a “whole lot of physical therapy.”