{"id":74003,"date":"2026-07-19T23:45:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T03:45:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=74003"},"modified":"2026-07-19T23:45:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T03:45:47","slug":"lakeland-man-arrested-for-exposing-himself-at-mulberry-walmart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2026\/07\/19\/lakeland-man-arrested-for-exposing-himself-at-mulberry-walmart\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakeland man arrested for exposing himself at Mulberry Walmart"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"a5857d\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #a5857d;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"240\" height=\"327\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" src=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/david-andrew-hicks.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-74005 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/david-andrew-hicks.webp 240w, https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/david-andrew-hicks-220x300.webp 220w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On July 8, 2026, the Polk County Sheriff&#8217;s Office published a Crime Stoppers video on YouTube and Facebook seeking the public&#8217;s help to identify an older adult white male suspect who exposed himself to a 5-year-old little girl at the Mulberry Walmart on July 6, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here is the Crime Stoppers video:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embedpress-embedpress aligncenter\" data-source-id=\"source-6836777d-6c50-4d63-81f7-a6422e5c9eb5\" data-embed-type=\"Youtube\"><div class=\"gutenberg-block-wraper  \"><div class=\"position-right-wraper ep-embed-content-wraper   \" style=\"position:relative;display:inline-block\"><div class=\"ose-youtube ose-uid-4055d693d560431c85ea88565ba76690 ose-embedpress-responsive\" style=\"width:600px; height:340px; max-height:340px; max-width:100%; display:inline-block;\" data-embed-type=\"Youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ss3m4iKFxtU\" allowFullScreen=\"true\" width=\"600\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ss3m4iKFxtU?feature=oembed&#038;color=red&#038;rel=1&#038;controls=2&#038;start=true&#038;end=true&#038;fs=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;mute=1&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;playsinline=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media;accelerometer;autoplay;clipboard-write;gyroscope;picture-in-picture clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen referrerpolicy=\"origin\" style=\"width:600px;height:340px;max-width:100%;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><style>\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-6836777d-6c50-4d63-81f7-a6422e5c9eb5\"] .ose-embedpress-responsive{\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                        height: 340px!important;\n                        max-height: 340px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-6836777d-6c50-4d63-81f7-a6422e5c9eb5\"] iframe{\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                        height: 340px!important;\n                        max-height: 340px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-6836777d-6c50-4d63-81f7-a6422e5c9eb5\"] .embedpress-yt-subscribe iframe{\n                        height: 100%!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-6836777d-6c50-4d63-81f7-a6422e5c9eb5\"] .ose-youtube > iframe{\n                        height: 340px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                        max-width: 100%!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-6836777d-6c50-4d63-81f7-a6422e5c9eb5\"] .ose-youtube{\n                        height: 340px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-6836777d-6c50-4d63-81f7-a6422e5c9eb5\"] .ose-giphy img{\n                        height: 340px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-6836777d-6c50-4d63-81f7-a6422e5c9eb5\"] .ose-google-docs img{\n                        height: 340px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-6836777d-6c50-4d63-81f7-a6422e5c9eb5\"] .ose-embedpress-responsive.ose-google-photos{\n                        height: 100% !important;\n                        max-height: 100% !important;\n                    }\n\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-6836777d-6c50-4d63-81f7-a6422e5c9eb5\"] .embera-embed-responsive-provider-gettyimages,\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-6836777d-6c50-4d63-81f7-a6422e5c9eb5\"] .embera-embed-responsive-provider-gettyimages iframe,\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-6836777d-6c50-4d63-81f7-a6422e5c9eb5\"] .getty{\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                        height: 340px!important;\n                        max-height: 340px!important;\n                        max-width: 100%!important;\n                    }\n                    <\/style><style>\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-6836777d-6c50-4d63-81f7-a6422e5c9eb5\"] img.watermark{\n                        display: none;\n                    }\n                    \n                    <\/style><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Ss3m4iKFxtU\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/Ss3m4iKFxtU<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here is the redacted video of him exposing himself at Walmart:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embedpress-embedpress aligncenter\" data-source-id=\"source-a50b111d-e6c9-48a3-a01b-0d31e487ccca\" data-embed-type=\"Youtube\"><div class=\"gutenberg-block-wraper  \"><div class=\"position-right-wraper ep-embed-content-wraper   \" style=\"position:relative;display:inline-block\"><div class=\"ose-youtube ose-uid-8b33d62297a088c5d4b6d17048506553 ose-embedpress-responsive\" style=\"width:600px; height:340px; max-height:340px; max-width:100%; display:inline-block;\" data-embed-type=\"Youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"NGxqT7CBo9Y\" allowFullScreen=\"true\" width=\"600\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nGxqT7CBo9Y?feature=oembed&#038;color=red&#038;rel=1&#038;controls=2&#038;start=true&#038;end=true&#038;fs=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;mute=1&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;playsinline=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media;accelerometer;autoplay;clipboard-write;gyroscope;picture-in-picture clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen referrerpolicy=\"origin\" style=\"width:600px;height:340px;max-width:100%;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><style>\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-a50b111d-e6c9-48a3-a01b-0d31e487ccca\"] .ose-embedpress-responsive{\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                        height: 340px!important;\n                        max-height: 340px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-a50b111d-e6c9-48a3-a01b-0d31e487ccca\"] iframe{\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                        height: 340px!important;\n                        max-height: 340px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-a50b111d-e6c9-48a3-a01b-0d31e487ccca\"] .embedpress-yt-subscribe iframe{\n                        height: 100%!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-a50b111d-e6c9-48a3-a01b-0d31e487ccca\"] .ose-youtube > iframe{\n                        height: 340px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                        max-width: 100%!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-a50b111d-e6c9-48a3-a01b-0d31e487ccca\"] .ose-youtube{\n                        height: 340px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-a50b111d-e6c9-48a3-a01b-0d31e487ccca\"] .ose-giphy img{\n                        height: 340px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-a50b111d-e6c9-48a3-a01b-0d31e487ccca\"] .ose-google-docs img{\n                        height: 340px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-a50b111d-e6c9-48a3-a01b-0d31e487ccca\"] .ose-embedpress-responsive.ose-google-photos{\n                        height: 100% !important;\n                        max-height: 100% !important;\n                    }\n\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-a50b111d-e6c9-48a3-a01b-0d31e487ccca\"] .embera-embed-responsive-provider-gettyimages,\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-a50b111d-e6c9-48a3-a01b-0d31e487ccca\"] .embera-embed-responsive-provider-gettyimages iframe,\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-a50b111d-e6c9-48a3-a01b-0d31e487ccca\"] .getty{\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                        height: 340px!important;\n                        max-height: 340px!important;\n                        max-width: 100%!important;\n                    }\n                    <\/style><style>\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-a50b111d-e6c9-48a3-a01b-0d31e487ccca\"] img.watermark{\n                        display: none;\n                    }\n                    \n                    <\/style><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/nGxqT7CBo9Y\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/nGxqT7CBo9Y<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On July 9, 2026, the Polk County Sheriff&#8217;s Office received an anonymous Crime Stoppers tip with this information: &#8216;The suspect is David Hicks, who did the same thing in Toccoa, Georgia.&#8217;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Detectives looked at Hicks&#8217; photo, and he looked exactly like the suspect seen in the surveillance video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This afternoon, around 1:00 p.m., detectives responded to Hicks&#8217; home, 2811 John David Place in Lakeland, and took him into custody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Detectives learned the following about Hicks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hicks is the younger brother of Thomas Hicks, who was arrested during Operation Polk Around and Find out\/Operation Child Protector VIII (news release:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/ys5scj4u\">https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/ys5scj4u<\/a>). Thomas Hicks has been playing Santa Claus in Lakeland for years. He is still in the Polk County Jail with several felonies, including human trafficking.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>David Hicks&#8217; (DOB 3\/1\/1964)<\/strong>&nbsp;criminal history is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1991<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; arrested in Anderson, SC, for indecent exposure; fined<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1992<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; arrested in Toccoa, GA, for indecent exposure; no disposition<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1996<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; arrested in Escambia County, FL, for indecent exposure; sentenced to 3 months in jail<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1998<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; arrested in Toccoa, GA, for indecent exposure; nolle prosse<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1998<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; arrested twice in Toccoa, GA, for child molestation; one charge was nolle prosse, and one charge resulted in adjudication withheld, 5 years probation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hicks refused to speak with PCSO detectives this afternoon. So far, he is being charged with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>One count indecent exposure (F3)<br>One count lewd exhibition (F3)<br>One count exposure of sexual organs (F3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here is a video of him being taken to the Sheriff&#8217;s Processing Center this afternoon:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embedpress-embedpress aligncenter\" data-source-id=\"source-691a4d29-d187-42c2-92fe-96de6ee07e7e\" data-embed-type=\"Youtube\"><div class=\"gutenberg-block-wraper  \"><div class=\"position-right-wraper ep-embed-content-wraper   \" style=\"position:relative;display:inline-block\"><div class=\"ose-youtube ose-uid-c3d59cc12aaf8b6c4f36545f9777af82 ose-embedpress-responsive\" style=\"width:600px; height:600px; max-height:600px; max-width:100%; display:inline-block;\" data-embed-type=\"Youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YNX sRqbPlU\" allowFullScreen=\"true\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YNX-sRqbPlU?feature=oembed&#038;color=red&#038;rel=0&#038;controls=1&#038;start=&#038;end=&#038;fs=0&#038;iv_load_policy=0&#038;autoplay=0&#038;mute=0&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;cc_load_policy=1&#038;playsinline=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media;accelerometer;autoplay;clipboard-write;gyroscope;picture-in-picture clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen referrerpolicy=\"origin\" style=\"width:600px;height:600px;max-width:100%;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><style>\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-691a4d29-d187-42c2-92fe-96de6ee07e7e\"] .ose-embedpress-responsive{\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                        height: 600px!important;\n                        max-height: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-691a4d29-d187-42c2-92fe-96de6ee07e7e\"] iframe{\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                        height: 600px!important;\n                        max-height: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-691a4d29-d187-42c2-92fe-96de6ee07e7e\"] .embedpress-yt-subscribe iframe{\n                        height: 100%!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-691a4d29-d187-42c2-92fe-96de6ee07e7e\"] .ose-youtube > iframe{\n                        height: 600px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                        max-width: 100%!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-691a4d29-d187-42c2-92fe-96de6ee07e7e\"] .ose-youtube{\n                        height: 600px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-691a4d29-d187-42c2-92fe-96de6ee07e7e\"] .ose-giphy img{\n                        height: 600px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-691a4d29-d187-42c2-92fe-96de6ee07e7e\"] .ose-google-docs img{\n                        height: 600px!important;\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                    }\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-691a4d29-d187-42c2-92fe-96de6ee07e7e\"] .ose-embedpress-responsive.ose-google-photos{\n                        height: 100% !important;\n                        max-height: 100% !important;\n                    }\n\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-691a4d29-d187-42c2-92fe-96de6ee07e7e\"] .embera-embed-responsive-provider-gettyimages,\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-691a4d29-d187-42c2-92fe-96de6ee07e7e\"] .embera-embed-responsive-provider-gettyimages iframe,\n                    [data-source-id=\"source-691a4d29-d187-42c2-92fe-96de6ee07e7e\"] .getty{\n                        width: 600px!important;\n                        height: 600px!important;\n                        max-height: 600px!important;\n                        max-width: 100%!important;\n                    }\n                    <\/style><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/shorts\/YNX-sRqbPlU?feature=share\">https:\/\/youtube.com\/shorts\/YNX-sRqbPlU?feature=share<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you believe you are a victim of David Hicks, or have witnessed him exposing himself, please contact the Polk County Sheriff&#8217;s Office at 863-298-6200.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On July 8, 2026, the Polk County Sheriff&#8217;s Office published a Crime Stoppers video on YouTube and Facebook seeking the public&#8217;s help to identify an older adult white male suspect&hellip; 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