POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Frostproof man is facing multiple charges after an investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) linked him to a stolen utility trailer and a Jeep Grand Cherokee reported stolen months ago.
The investigation began on Tuesday, June 11th, when PCSO deputies received a report of a stolen 2012 utility trailer from Frostproof. Witnesses reported that the trailer was hauled away from the scene by a white 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The following day, on Wednesday, June 12th, while patrolling West Frostproof Road, Sgt. Sanders spotted a Jeep in a yard that closely matched the description of the vehicle involved in the trailer theft.
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Detectives from the PCSO responded to the location and found 30-year-old Jonathan Brito Bermudez of Frostproof actively painting a portion of the Jeep. When questioned, Bermudez initially claimed he had purchased the Jeep two weeks prior, but then changed his story, stating he acquired it on June 9th.
Despite Bermudez’s attempts to conceal the vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), detectives were able to identify the Jeep successfully. It was confirmed to be a vehicle that had been reported stolen in Frostproof back in March 2024.
Further investigation by PCSO detectives revealed that the recently stolen utility trailer was being hidden in neighboring Highlands County. With the assistance of deputies from the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), the stolen trailer was successfully recovered.
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Jonathan Brito Bermudez was subsequently arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the Polk County Jail.
He faces a litany of charges, including: Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Grand Theft, Possession of a Motor Vehicle with Altered VIN, Possession of False Bill of Sale, Dealing in Stolen Property, and two counts of Tampering with Evidence.
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