POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A 58-year-old Fort Meade man was caught red-handed Wednesday afternoon after a foot chase with a Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) detective and a concerned citizen.
Around 2:33 PM, a man contacted the PCSO to report that he was in pursuit of a suspect, later identified as Juan Pablo Duarte, who had attempted to steal construction materials from his property.
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The detective, while on the phone with the victim, relayed real-time location updates to PCSO deputies in Fort Meade. The deputies quickly responded to the area and apprehended Duarte, thanks to the coordinated effort between the detective, the victim, and the responding deputies.
Duarte has a history of criminal activity, including burglary, trespassing, and drug possession. He was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of burglary and petit theft.
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