POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Bartow man’s attempt to evade the law ended in an ironic twist Saturday night when Polk County deputies found him exactly where a 911 caller said he would be. Timothy Steven Kintz, 36, was taken into custody just before midnight on April 4 after a brief foot chase and a deployment of a Taser in Alturas.
The search for Kintz began following an incident the previous day. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Kintz had reported to his probation officer on April 3 and subsequently failed a drug test. When a second officer tried to prevent him from leaving the office, Kintz allegedly shoved the official and fled the scene.
The situation came to a head on Saturday as deputies arrived near Elm Street to search for Kintz on outstanding warrants. While units were pulling into the neighborhood, dispatchers received a series of calls regarding a “suspicious person” loitering on the very same street.
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Deputies quickly spotted Kintz, who immediately took off on foot. Despite multiple verbal commands to stop and a warning that a Taser would be used if he did not comply, Kintz continued to flee. A deputy eventually fired his Taser, striking Kintz and ending the pursuit.
The struggle didn’t end there, however. Authorities stated that Kintz continued to fight deputies during the handcuffing process, though he was eventually secured without further incident.
Kintz was transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center. He faces original charges from the Bartow Police Department for Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Violation of Probation.
Due to the Saturday night altercation, the PCSO added new charges of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Resisting without Violence.
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