MISTRIAL DECLARED IN SHERIFF'S OFFICE SUIT

A mistrial was declared Thursday in a federal lawsuit brought against
the Polk County Sheriff's Office by the family of a 22-year-old
Lakeland man, Jason Michael Britt, who was killed in a drug raid in
2002.

His father, Joel Britt, alleges in the lawsuit that an undercover
sheriff's deputy was reckless when he shot and killed Jason Britt
during a drug raid. The lawsuit contends Deputy Michael Burdette used
excessive force.

The Sheriff's Office said Jason Britt threatened Burdette with a
baseball bat.

The trial, in the courtroom of U.S. District Court Judge James
Whittemore, is expected to be rescheduled within the first six months
of 2007, according to the Sheriff's Office.