A Winter Haven man who had previously voiced deep-seated distrust of police discovered himself in the back of a patrol car this month—not as an officer, but as a suspect. On February 11, 2026, a Polk County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant was shopping at a local grocery store when he spotted a man in a black shirt who appeared to be familiar.
According to deputies, the clothing had the term “SHERIFF” in strong lettering and a star identifying the wearer as a member of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Recognizing the man’s clothing as regular-issue duty gear, the lieutenant approached him to investigate his credentials. When asked where the garment came from, the man initially stated that a deputy had given it to him during a community outreach program the previous year…