LAKELAND, Fla. – A 25-year-old Lakeland man with an active felony warrant was apprehended after attempting to hide under a porch, and the homeowner who aided him was also arrested, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Nickolaus Eisinger was wanted for Violation of Probation related to previous charges of possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
On the evening of Tuesday, March 18th, PCSO deputies were searching for Eisinger and went to a residence on Creekwood Run, north of Lakeland off Rockridge Road. Deputies initially found no one at the residence. However, a tip led them to return, as Eisinger was reportedly on his way there.
Upon their second arrival, deputies spotted Eisinger’s vehicle. When they knocked on the door, 44-year-old Michael Vandenbogaert answered. Vandenbogaert denied Eisinger was inside the residence and then yelled into the house, alerting Eisinger that law enforcement was present.
Deputies subsequently discovered Eisinger attempting to hide under the back porch.
Further investigation revealed that Vandenbogaert was aware Eisinger was in the house and had, in fact, brought him there. Despite this, Vandenbogaert claimed he was unaware of the outstanding warrant, even though deputies had informed him of it upon their initial contact.
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Both Eisinger and Vandenbogaert were arrested and taken to the Polk County Jail.
Eisinger was additionally charged with resisting arrest for attempting to hide. Vandenbogaert was charged with accessory after the fact for providing false information to deputies regarding Eisinger’s location.
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