Quick-acting resident confronts would-be thief, leading to drug charges and the arrest of two alleged accomplices.
A Monday afternoon for a Winter Haven couple turned into a close-quarters citizen’s arrest, which ultimately led to the detention of three people on a variety of charges, including burglary, resisting arrest, and possession of methamphetamine.
The incident occurred on Monday, September 29th, in the Eloise Woods East Lake Mariam neighborhood—also known locally as “The Counties Neighborhood.” A resident, who has not been named, was sitting on their porch when they observed a suspicious man, later identified as 31-year-old Rusty Waddle, acting suspiciously near a parked work truck.
According to a report from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), the witness watched as Waddle illegally entered the vehicle and removed an air compressor. The quick-thinking resident immediately got off the porch, approached Waddle, and reportedly told him to return the stolen property. Waddle complied, placing the air compressor back into the truck.
The vigilant witness then alerted the worker whose truck had been entered and contacted the PCSO to report the attempted theft.
When a deputy arrived at Waddle’s residence to investigate, it took numerous attempts before two occupants, identified as 26-year-old Ashleigh Jarvis and 29-year-old Justin Smith, finally answered the door. Ashleigh Jarvis allegedly told the deputy that no one else was inside the home—a statement that was quickly proven false.
Waddle was discovered hiding in a bedroom closet. All three individuals—Waddle, Jarvis, and Smith—were subsequently taken into custody.
All three suspects were transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center. Rusty Waddle faces multiple charges, including Burglary, Petit Theft, Resisting Arrest, and Possession of Methamphetamine and Drug Paraphernalia. Justin Smith and Ashleigh Jarvis were both charged with Resisting Arrest, and Jarvis also received an additional charge for Giving False Information to Law Enforcement Officer (LEO).
The PCSO highlighted the importance of neighborhood vigilance in this case, crediting the witness’s actions for leading to the arrests.
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