The Brief
- Polk County deputies are launching an aggressive crackdown on illegal harvesting of palmetto berries.
- High pharmaceutical demand makes the protected berries valuable, prompting thieves to trespass on private property during harvesting season.
- The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Agricultural Crimes Unit is working to protect local ranchers and grove owners from theft.
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Deputies in Polk County are cracking down on illegal saw palmetto berry harvesters who target private property to profit off high pharmaceutical demand.
Berry bandits crackdown
What we know:
Fifty-five-year-old Rodney Michael of Lake Wales was arrested last week after deputies caught him trespassing on private property to harvest protected saw palmetto berries.
Deputies seized a truck bed full of berries from him, noting that harvesting without a state permit or landowner permission is a felony in Florida.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Agricultural Crimes Unit tracks these cases to keep ranchers and grove owners from becoming easy targets.
High pharmaceutical berry demand
The backstory:…