A Lakeland man was arrested early Sunday morning after being found lurking near the residence of a person who had filed an injunction against him. John Scott, 47, was taken into custody by Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) deputies and faces a slew of charges, including stalking, weapons violations, and drug possession.
Deputies responded to the Lakeland residence shortly after 2:00 a.m. on Sunday after receiving a report of a suspicious person.
They found Scott parked near the victim’s home, concealed by a business fence. Although the victim had recently filed an injunction for protection against Scott, he had not yet been officially served with the order.
Upon making contact with Scott, deputies encountered resistance. He was uncooperative and refused to exit his vehicle, hindering the investigation. A search of Scott’s vehicle revealed a concealed firearm, which he is prohibited from possessing due to his status as a convicted felon. Deputies also discovered methamphetamine and marijuana in his possession.
Further investigation revealed that Scott had sent numerous text messages to the victim over the past several days, indicating that he had been watching their residence. This evidence, along with his presence at the scene, led to stalking charges.
Scott was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail. He faces the following charges:
- Resisting Arrest
- Stalking
- Loitering and Prowling
- Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
- Carrying a Concealed Firearm
- Possession of Methamphetamine
- Possession of Marijuana
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia