POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Deputies in Polk County caught up with a local duo on Sunday evening after a string of unusual neighborhood disturbances ended with an arrest on Old Polk City Road.
The incident began around 7 p.m. on April 19, when a resident living north of Lakeland, near US 98 North, saw a man pull a decorative white arch from their lawn, toss it into a red Dodge pickup, and drive away.
The theft report was quickly followed by a second call less than a mile away. Witnesses reported a man and a woman in a matching red truck driving house-to-house and opening several mailboxes.
Polk County Sheriff’s deputies intercepted the truck and identified the occupants as 35-year-old Jeremiah Autry and 43-year-old Aden Reese, both residents of Polk City. The stolen lawn arch was found sitting in the bed of the pickup.
When questioned about the mailboxes, the pair offered conflicting explanations. Autry told investigators they were searching for their son’s Medicaid card, though he admitted he did not know anyone on the street and could not explain why the card would be in those specific mailboxes.
READ: Florida High-Speed Chase Ends In K9 Struggle After Motorcyclist Slams Into SUV
Reese, meanwhile, claimed they were searching for court paperwork belonging to a friend named Rachel. When deputies asked if Rachel lived in the neighborhood, Reese clarified that she actually lives in Pinellas County.
Both individuals were taken into custody and charged with petit theft and conspiracy to commit petit theft.
While the theft charges are classified as second-degree misdemeanors, Reese faces more significant legal trouble; she is currently on felony probation out of Leon County for a prior burglary conviction. As a result, she was additionally charged with violation of probation.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
