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

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Polk County man is accused of trying to run down a group of people in the Lakeland area during an argument on 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 at the group of four people, hitting one of them, deputies said. LaPorte got out of the car and attacked the person who was struck, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Dennis crawled under a nearby house and removed the floor boards to enter the home in an effort to elude deputies.

The person who was hit by the car suffered minor injuries, deputies said.

Dennis was charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder, burglary, criminal mischief and resisting. LaPorte was charged with felony battery and violation of probation.

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