Deputy’s Dishonest Actions Uncovered by Fellow Officers During Traffic Stop
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) traffic enforcement deputy resigned on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, after being arrested and charged with petit theft. Had he not resigned, his employment would have been terminated.
Justin Register, 28, was taken into custody following an investigation initiated by two fellow PCSO deputies who reported his alleged dishonest behavior during a traffic stop.
READ: Lakeland Woman Arrested After Bicycle, Foot Chase With Polk County Deputy
“I am disgusted by Justin Register’s dishonest behavior. We are going to hold him accountable for his disgraceful actions, and he should never be trusted to work in law enforcement again,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “I am proud of the two other deputies who came forward to report what they discovered.”
The incident unfolded near Fort Meade during a traffic stop conducted by Register, where the driver was arrested for driving without a valid driver’s license. Deputies Joseph Leon and Vito Mineo arrived on the scene as backup.
Deputy Leon observed Register place the driver’s wallet and phone in the trunk of Register’s patrol car. Shortly after, Deputy Leon saw Register return to the trunk. When the driver’s daughter arrived and requested his property, Deputy Leon watched Register retrieve the items, pull $82 from the wallet, and hand it to the woman.
READ: Vandalism Spree Ends With Arrest In Frostproof: Polk County Sheriff
The driver stated that approximately $300 more should have been in the wallet. Deputies Leon and Mineo began searching the scene and found a paystub belonging to the driver for a check cashed for $400.
Deputy Leon then noticed Register return to his patrol vehicle trunk. Register reportedly unzipped a rifle bag, removed folded cash, unfolded and flattened it, and then exclaimed, “Oh, here it is!”
Deputies Leon and Mineo immediately reported their observations to their Lieutenant, prompting the commencement of an investigation.
Sheriff Judd emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and far from complete. The PCSO will audit all of Register’s arrests and traffic stops. The Sheriff’s Office is also collaborating with the 10th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office to review all arrests made by Register that are currently being prosecuted.
The PCSO encourages anyone with information concerning Register’s conduct related to any of his investigations to contact their administrative investigation section at 863-298-6506.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
