LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland man who goes by the nickname “Charlie Brown” ended up in handcuffs Wednesday afternoon after a brazen theft in Kathleen took a messy turn.
Around midday on March 25th, 43-year-old Charles D. Miller was spotted reaching into the trunk of a car parked on 2nd Street, snatching a leaf blower and three battery packs before the owner realized what was happening.
The victim didn’t just watch it happen; he immediately chased Miller down and tried to hold him at the scene. While a bystander called the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, a struggle broke out between the two men. During the scuffle, the victim’s cell phone fell out of his pocket.
Miller allegedly grabbed the phone and managed to break free, pedaling away on a bicycle just before patrol cars arrived.
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Deputies didn’t have to look long. They spotted Miller near the Circle K on Deeson Road and took him into custody. While the leaf blower and batteries were recovered, the victim’s phone was missing until deputies found it tossed in the grass just around the corner from the original crime scene.
During his interview with detectives, Miller mentioned his nickname is “Charlie Brown,” a detail the Sheriff’s Office noted matched his appearance in his latest mugshot.
The recovered gear, valued at approximately $1,500, has been returned to the owner. Miller now faces felony charges of burglary of a conveyance, grand theft, and tampering with evidence.
His legal history is extensive, involving past arrests for theft, dealing in stolen property, battery, and drug-related offenses.
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