POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Frostproof man was arrested Thursday morning after allegedly breaking into a convenience store during a power outage caused by Hurricane Milton.
Just before 7:00 am on October 10th, while much of Frostproof was still without power, a witness reported a possible break-in at the Little Dixie North convenience store on County Road 630. Polk County Sheriff’s deputies responded quickly and found 44-year-old Justin Ryan Barker inside the store with a shattered glass door.
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Barker, who was already known to deputies, had apparently cut himself on the broken glass and left a trail of blood at the scene. An empty bottle of 5-hour Energy drink was also found nearby.
Deputies provided first aid to Barker before transporting him to the hospital for treatment of his injuries. He was then booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of burglary during a state of emergency and retail theft. Barker also had two outstanding warrants.
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