Grady Judd easily won a sixth four-year term as Polk County sheriff on Tuesday.
Judd took nearly 84% of the vote vs. 16% for Theodore Murray with 166 of 172 precincts reporting.
Murray, 46, filed to run in May against one of the country’s most popular personalities in law enforcement, citing issues with the Sheriff’s Office and a run-in he had with a department in Franklin County. Murray claimed the Polk agency failed to investigate his allegations that associates forged deeds to take ownership of his properties in Frostproof and in Gulf County in 2022.
He also said he was mistreated by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in an episode that led to his commitment to a psychiatric facility, then convicted of reckless driving and resisting arrest.
Murray had also been convicted of misdemeanor voyeurism in 2003, according to court records.
In a crazy twist, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office has an arrest warrant for Murray.
Carrie Horstman, Public Information Officer, with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed they were contacted by Leon County Sheriff’s Office. “Our agency received a message from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office this morning that Theodore Murray, DOB 3/3/1978, has an active felony warrant for battery on an emergency medical care provider and was possibly at REDACTED in Frostproof.
Leon County requested that we send deputies to that address to see if he was there. The deputies did not find anyone at that home and spoke to residents in the area, who told the deputies that Murray had not lived there for approximately four years. Deputies called his parents, who advised they have not had any recent contact with him and do not know where he lives. They told deputies he has no family in Polk County.” according to Horstman.
Murray has a background that includes past run-ins with law enforcement. He pleaded nolo contendre and was adjudicated guilty of video voyeurism on 10/14/2005. He was also originally charged for Lewd and Lascivious which was dropped by prosecutors after he plead guilty.
This is a developing story and we have reached out to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office for a copy of the arrest warrant. We have also reached out to Theodore Murray by phone and text messages with no response.