WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A dispute over a parking space escalated dramatically yesterday, leading to a violent home invasion and the arrest of a Winter Haven man who, according to the victim, declared he was “ready to go back to prison.”
At approximately 8:33 p.m. on Wednesday, Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) deputies responded to an aggravated battery complaint in the Florence Villa neighborhood. The victim recounted two terrifying encounters with 58-year-old Lucious Smith throughout the day.
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The first incident, reportedly triggered by a parking space disagreement, saw Smith allegedly striking the victim’s door and mailbox with a baseball bat.
However, the situation took a much more sinister turn hours later. The victim woke to find Smith inside her residence, again armed with the baseball bat. She reported that Smith repeatedly struck her with the bat before vandalizing her home, smashing a glass table and a flower pot.
During the attack, the victim stated that Smith confessed his desire to return to prison, a place he’s been three times before.
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Deputies quickly located Smith at his residence, where he surrendered without incident. He was then transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center.
Lucious Smith now faces a litany of serious charges, including Armed Burglary with Battery, Aggravated Battery with a deadly weapon, Battery Prior Conviction, and two counts of Criminal Mischief. Given his past record and the nature of these new charges, it appears Smith may very well get his wish to return to prison.
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