WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A Massachusetts man was arrested Monday night after a Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) deputy clocked him driving a white Ford F-150 at an alarming speed of 104 mph in a 50 mph zone on Winter Lake Road.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 8:51 p.m., resulted in charges of reckless driving, speeding, and expired registration.
According to investigators, the deputy was conducting routine traffic enforcement near Winter Lake Road (SR 540) and Monterey Drive when the speeding Ford F-150 caught his attention. The vehicle was seen weaving through traffic, switching lanes multiple times without using turn signals, and forcing other motorists to brake to avoid collisions.
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The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the Ford at the intersection of Winter Lake Road and Jim Keene Boulevard, directly in front of the PCSO’s Operation Center.
The driver, identified as 21-year-old Matthew J. Harrison, presented a Massachusetts driver’s license. A check of the vehicle’s registration revealed it had expired over a year ago.
When questioned about his excessive speed, Harrison initially claimed his child had been taken to the emergency room in Brandon.
However, he was unable to specify which hospital. Deputy Randolph then instructed Harrison to contact the child’s mother. Initially, the mother reportedly knew nothing of an injury. After a brief conversation in Spanish between Harrison and his wife, the mother “miraculously” recalled the child’s injury.
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Further inconsistencies arose when Harrison stated the hospital was programmed into his phone’s GPS, a claim that was unsubstantiated upon review.
Matthew J. Harrison was subsequently arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the Polk County Jail, where he was booked on charges of Reckless Driving, Speeding, and Expired Registration.
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