WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A 34-year-old man is behind bars following a chaotic series of events that began at a Zaxby’s parking lot and ended with a physical altercation in the middle of Highway 17. Winter Haven police arrested Jamaal Michael Grayson, who is listed as homeless, on the night of March 14, 2026, after he allegedly attempted to break into occupied vehicles and assaulted a teenager.
The incident unfolded around 9 p.m. at the Zaxby’s located at 797 3rd St. SW. According to police reports, officers arrived to find a woman pacing frantically along the sidewalk. She reported that Grayson had opened the rear door of her truck while her 17-year-old son was sitting inside.
Upon seeing the teenager, Grayson reportedly backed away and attempted to open the doors of two other vehicles in the parking lot.
The situation escalated when the truck’s owner and his son began to chase the suspect. The pursuit spilled out onto Highway 17, where authorities say Grayson turned and punched the 17-year-old in the face. The blow knocked the teenager to the ground directly into a lane of travel.
The father continued the chase, eventually catching up to Grayson in the parking lot of a nearby Longhorn Steakhouse. During the final confrontation, Grayson reportedly swung at the man, who then punched Grayson to the ground and held him until police arrived.
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When questioned by officers, Grayson’s account of the evening shifted. He initially denied being at the restaurant at all, before claiming he was there “looking for his lady.” He admitted to pushing someone down in the road while being chased by a group of people but told officers he did not know who the person was.
A subsequent search of Grayson turned up a glass pipe with white residue in his pants pocket. Field tests confirmed the substance was methamphetamine. Police also noted that Grayson’s criminal record includes a felony battery conviction from 2019 and a criminal mischief charge from February of this year.
Grayson was transported to the Polk County Jail. He now faces a long list of charges, including attempted burglary of an occupied vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and child abuse without great bodily harm. He is also charged with felony battery due to his prior convictions and criminal mischief.
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