WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A proactive patrol through a Winter Haven neighborhood turned into a felony arrest Tuesday night after a local man was caught cycling in the dark without safety lights.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies were focused on the Dundee Road area of northeast Winter Haven following a string of recent bicycle thefts in the community. During the operation on March 31, a deputy spotted a cyclist navigating the streets after dark.
Because the bicycle lacked functional lighting, the deputy initiated a traffic stop, noting that the lack of visibility posed a significant safety hazard and violated Florida law.
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The rider was identified as 40-year-old Truston David Kunze of Winter Haven. While conducting a routine background check during the stop, deputies discovered that Kunze was wanted.
Records showed that Kunze had an active warrant out for his arrest from the Florida Commission on Offender Review. The warrant was issued for a Conditional Release Violation stemming from previous charges involving felony battery and possession of methamphetamine.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Kunze was taken into custody without incident. He was subsequently transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center and booked on the outstanding warrant.
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