WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A Winter Haven man is back behind bars facing a long list of new felonies after a violent domestic dispute early Sunday morning led police to find him hiding under a tent in a neighbor’s backyard.
The incident began around 2:17 a.m. on Dec. 21, when Winter Haven officers were called to a disturbance near Avenue K NE and Lake Martha Drive. Upon arrival, they located a female victim who told police that a verbal argument with an acquaintance, 46-year-old James Kendrick, had turned violent.
According to the police report, Kendrick struck the woman in the forehead with a handgun during the dispute. When the force of the blow knocked her to the ground, Kendrick allegedly got on top of her and continued to strike her repeatedly.
READ: Florida Woman Arrested After Allegedly Dunking 6-Year-Old Boy At Gaylord Palms Resort
The victim managed to escape his grasp and flee on foot. Investigators say Kendrick then jumped into the victim’s vehicle and chased her down the street. She eventually found a hiding spot, and Kendrick abandoned the vehicle on Avenue L NE.
Officers canvassed the area and located Kendrick hiding in a residential backyard, squeezed under a tent between a bicycle and a lawn mower. Police say he refused initial commands to show his hands and was detained after a brief struggle.
Next to Kendrick’s hiding spot, officers recovered a gray backpack matching a description given by the victim. Inside, they found a black firearm and multiple baggies of marijuana weighing more than 88 grams.
READ: “Bring It On”: DOJ Dares Congress As Lawmakers Threaten To Fine AG Pam Bondi Over Epstein Files
A background check revealed Kendrick was already a wanted man. He had nine active warrants at the time of his arrest: eight for unpaid child support and one mixed warrant including charges for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Felony Domestic Battery, False Imprisonment, Child Neglect, and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
Kendrick was taken to Winter Haven Hospital for a wrist injury complaint but was quickly medically cleared. He was then booked into the Polk County Sheriff’s Processing Center on new charges including Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, and Possession of Cannabis over 20 grams.
The victim was treated at the hospital for minor injuries and has since been released.
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.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
