A Lake Wales man’s attempt to evade arrest ended in a soggy surrender after he found himself lost and cold in a swampy wooded area, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Justin Brandon, 24, was apprehended on Friday, February 21st, after a brief but unsuccessful flight from deputies.
Brandon was wanted on an active warrant for failure to appear for violation of probation, stemming from previous convictions for vehicle theft, grand theft, trespassing, and petit theft. Polk County Sheriff’s deputies, searching for Brandon, located him on Citrus Drive in Lakeland.
However, upon spotting the deputies, Brandon fled on foot, running into a field north of Deeson Road.
Undeterred, Brandon then plunged into a nearby wooded area, which turned out to be a swamp. Deputies quickly surrounded the area and awaited the arrival of a K9 unit.
Brandon also reportedly admitted that he ran from deputies because he did not want to return to jail.