POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Bartow woman is back in custody following a Wednesday night confrontation that ended with a short-lived escape attempt and a run-in with a sheriff’s K9.
The incident began around 9 p.m. on February 18, when Polk County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a battery at a home near Lyle Parkway. By the time authorities arrived on the scene, the suspect, identified as 41-year-old Melissa Rae-Ann Crockett, had already fled the residence on foot.
Given Crockett’s legal history—which includes three prior convictions for aggravated battery with a weapon and a previous one-year stint in state prison—deputies launched an immediate search of the surrounding area.
The search led them to the nearby Magnolia Walk neighborhood, where they spotted Crockett hiding behind a house. When spotted, Crockett reportedly took off running again, leading deputies on a brief chase through the neighborhood.
The pursuit ended when K9 Kane was deployed to intercept her. According to investigators, Crockett physically grabbed the dog during the struggle to avoid being taken down or bitten. Deputies were able to move in quickly and apprehend her without further incident.
Crockett was transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center and booked on multiple charges, including resisting an officer with violence, battery with prior convictions, resisting without violence, and touching or striking a police dog.
Following the arrest, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed that K9 Kane did not sustain any injuries during the encounter.
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