Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested eight individuals following a violent disturbance at Lake Winterset on August 2, 2025. The incident occurred near the shoreline, with deputies responding to a call at 3:00 p.m. reporting an in-progress fight. Upon arrival, all participants had fled the scene by boat.
On August 10, 2025, a cellphone video of the incident surfaced on social media, advancing the investigation. The video depicts a group engaged in a physical altercation involving punches and kicks. Two individuals were temporarily rendered unconscious; one fell headfirst into the lake, and another received CPR from a bystander. Several small children were present near the fight.
A witness on a nearby boat with his family, including a five-year-old grandson, reported the incident disrupted their day and caused distress.
The altercation occurred on private property beyond the waterline, marked with “No Trespassing” signage per Florida Statute 810.011(5)(a) and bearing Polk County Sheriff’s Office markings. All suspects disregarded the signage and entered the property without authorization.
The affidavits state the fight was violent, with participants acting with common intent to engage in disorderly conduct, creating a danger of injury, and constituting a riot. The actions were deemed to corrupt public morals, outrage public decency, and disturb the peace of witnesses, resulting in charges of breach of the peace and disorderly conduct.
The arrested individuals and their charges are:
- Mason Land, 23: Rioting (F3), affray (M1), trespassing (M1), disorderly conduct (M2)
- Payton Ely, 19: Rioting (F3), affray (M1), trespassing (M1), disorderly conduct (M2)
- Timothy “Owen” Gooding, 21: Rioting (F3), affray (M1), trespassing (M1), disorderly conduct (M2), contributing to the delinquency of a minor (M1)
- Gavin Gooding, 17: Rioting (F3), affray (M1), trespassing (M1), disorderly conduct (M2)
- Richard Carden, 40: Rioting (F3), affray (M1), trespassing (M1), disorderly conduct (M2)
- Garrett Ore, 22: Rioting (F3), affray (M1), trespassing (M1), disorderly conduct (M2)
- Garrett Hiltabidel, 21: Rioting (F3), affray (M1), trespassing (M1), disorderly conduct (M2)
- Nate Land, 21: Rioting (F3), affray (M1), trespassing (M1), disorderly conduct (M2)
Sheriff Grady Judd stated the arrests were facilitated by video evidence and witness cooperation, emphasizing that unauthorized entry onto private property is prohibited.
