POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Thursday afternoon patrol on Bailey Road turned into a felony arrest after a local man was caught behind the wheel with a stolen firearm. At approximately 3:30 p.m. on March 19, a deputy with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office pulled over a dark blue Dodge pickup truck near the intersection of Mulberry.
The driver, identified as 33-year-old David James Darling of Mulberry, was unable to provide a valid driver’s license. Records checks performed at the scene revealed that Darling’s driving privileges had been suspended since May 2025.
During the encounter, the deputy questioned Darling regarding the presence of any illegal items within the vehicle. Darling reportedly told the officer that he had a firearm in the truck.
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While possessing a weapon in a vehicle is often legal, a serial number check on the handgun revealed it had been reported stolen out of Pasco County in December 2024.
Authorities took Darling into custody without incident. He was transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center where he was booked on two specific charges.
He faces a second-degree misdemeanor for Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (DWLSR) and a third-degree felony for Grand Theft of a Firearm.
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