POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Ft. Lauderdale woman currently house-hunting in Polk County says she might be rethinking her move after a Wednesday evening traffic stop ended with a trip to the county jail.
The incident began around 5:15 p.m. in Winter Haven. According to reports, Lt. Clark initiated a traffic stop on a Kia that was weaving through heavy commuter traffic, reportedly cutting off multiple vehicles and violating other drivers’ rights-of-way.
When asked for identification, the driver identified herself as “Felicia Braswell.” However, the date of birth she provided didn’t align with the records in the law enforcement database—specifically, it was off by exactly one year. When pressed on the discrepancy, the driver reportedly insisted the information was correct.
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Under further questioning, the woman dropped the charade. She admitted she had used her sister’s name and identified herself as Colleen Braswell-James. A subsequent check revealed why she might have attempted the deception: her driver’s license has been suspended since September, a status she admitted she was aware of.
During the interaction, Braswell-James expressed frustration with the strict enforcement, reportedly telling the deputy, “They don’t arrest for this in Broward.”
She also noted that she had been in the area looking for real estate but, following the arrest, was no longer sure she wanted to live in the county.
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While Braswell-James claimed arrests for such infractions aren’t common in her home county, records indicate she has faced charges there in the past, including battery, domestic violence by strangulation, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, deputies say.
Braswell-James was booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of driving with a suspended or revoked license and providing false information to law enforcement.
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