Dunwoody Man Arrested for Retail Theft Spree in Northern Florida | Athens Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney Blog

Two men, one from Dunwoody and one from Winter Haven, Florida, were arrested in Polk County over the weekend in connection to a weeklong string of retail thefts and "strong-armed robberies" in the southeast Winter Haven and Lake Wales, Florida, area.

According to a report in the Lake Wales News, Polk County Sheriff's deputies had obtained video surveillance photos of some of the retail thefts, which apparently included instances of shoplifting, illegally using credit cards and IDs and robbery. The deputies had been patrolling the streets of Winter Haven, speaking to businesses and local business owners in an attempt to identify the suspects.

Ultimately, deputies assigned to the East Division Crime Suppression Team identified the Florida man and arranged to meet with him to discuss the robberies. The man from Winter Haven provided them with information about his alleged accomplice, a 37-year-old man from Dunwoody and told them where he was staying.

Man Accused of Retail Theft Trapped in Hotel Room, Unable to Escape

When deputies arrived at the Howard Johnson Inn in Winter Haven, where the Georgia man was staying, they asked him to come out of his room to be interviewed, but he refused. Police say they then heard banging sounds on the walls and ceiling of the hotel room, leading them to believe he was trying to escape.

The deputies obtained a key to the hotel room but were still unable to enter because the chain on the door was engaged. They continued speaking to the suspect through the door and were ultimately able to convince him to surrender.

Both men admitted their involvement in the retail thefts and robberies, according to police. The Georgia man says he committed the crimes in order to pay off a drug debt.

The men were booked into the Polk County Jail and are charged with robbery, identity theft, credit card fraud, forgery, dealing in stolen property and petty theft. The Florida man was also charged with a probation violation.

Both men have previous criminal histories including arrests for retail theft, shoplifting, passing worthless checks, burglary, non-payment of child support, minor drug offenses, assaults, domestic violence and probation violations.

Source: Lake Wales News, "Deputies arrest strong-armed robbery suspects," October 16, 2010