POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Sunday search for a wanted suspect in Frostproof didn’t lead Polk County Sheriff’s deputies to their original target, but it did result in the discovery of a man hiding behind a mirror with a lengthy list of legal troubles.
Deputies arrived at a residence on April 26, 2026, acting on a tip that a person with an active warrant was hunkered down in a shed on the property. Upon arrival, investigators heard movement coming from inside the structure. The property owner informed deputies that the shed should be empty and gave no one permission to be inside.
After several verbal commands to exit were ignored, deputies entered the shed. They did not find their original suspect; instead, they located 39-year-old Bobby Earl McKenzie attempting to conceal himself behind a large mirror.
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McKenzie’s discovery triggered a cascade of legal charges. Initially detained for trespassing and resisting an officer without violence, a subsequent search revealed he was in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
The investigation deepened as deputies ran McKenzie’s information through their database. They discovered he was wanted on an active warrant out of Liberty County for violating probation related to previous charges of methamphetamine possession and fleeing to elude law enforcement.
Because McKenzie was already on felony probation at the time of his Sunday arrest, he now faces an additional violation of probation charge.
Further records checks identified McKenzie as a Florida-designated “Career Offender.” Under state law, individuals with this designation must register with authorities whenever they move.
While McKenzie’s last known address was listed in Winter Haven, he reportedly told deputies he had been staying in Frostproof for several weeks. This admission led to an additional felony charge for failing to register as a career offender.
While the original person of interest remains at large, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that McKenzie was booked into the county jail on seven separate counts.
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