POLK COUNTY, Fla. – An Auburndale man is back behind bars after authorities say he pointed a firearm at Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies who arrived at a home on Hales Road on Saturday.
Deputies originally went to the Auburndale residence to locate an individual who had an active warrant. According to agency reports, deputies knocked on the front door, prompting a male voice inside to ask, “Who is it?”
When a deputy replied, “Sheriff’s Office,” the front door swung open. Investigators say a man pointed a firearm at the deputies before quickly closing the door again.
Deputies ordered the suspect to step outside with his hands up. The man complied with the commands and was secured by the deputies at the scene. Authorities later identified him as 53-year-old Sean Verlan Mills.
Following his arrest, Mills told law enforcement that “people were after him” and stated that he was not sure who was standing at his front door. During a subsequent interview with a detective, Mills claimed that he had been recently threatened by someone, though he admitted he never reported the incident to the police.
A search of the residence led to the recovery of the firearm. Because Mills is a convicted felon, he is legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under Florida law.
Mills now faces several charges, including four counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and resisting an officer without violence.
Records show Mills has a criminal history involving 29 prior arrests and 11 felony convictions. His past charges include burglary, theft, criminal mischief, narcotics violations, traffic offenses, false imprisonment, and weapons violations.
The individual with the active warrant whom deputies were originally looking for was not located at the residence.
READ: Pasco County Man Arrested On Drug Charges In Polk County
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