POLK COUNTY, Fla. – It was a Thursday afternoon joyride gone sideways when 42-year-old Michael Childers of Lakeland found himself in a bit of a pickle, courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
A PCSO deputy was on patrol near US 98 and Clubhouse Road, south of Lakeland, when his attention was drawn to a motorcycle zipping along the Fort Fraser Trail. The motorcycle, piloted by Childers and carrying a female passenger, lacked a license plate and exceeded the local speed limits.
The deputy signaled Childers to pull over, but the man apparently had other plans. Instead of a polite stop, he reportedly sped up, executed a daring three-lane dash, and finally parked in the Circle K store parking lot.
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The deputy followed into the parking lot, approached Childers, and successfully detained him.
Now, here’s where things get interesting. A search of Childers revealed a rather… unique… collection of items. He was reportedly in possession of:
- An axe head chained to a handcuff (because why not?)
- A firearm
- A handcuff key (which, as we’ll explain, is a bit of a no-no)
Childers was promptly arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail, where he was booked on charges of:
- Fleeing with reckless disregard (for that high-speed, multi-lane maneuver)
- Display of a firearm during a felony (because, well, firearm)
- Possession of a concealed handcuff key (more on that in a sec)
- Operating a vehicle that is not registered (that missing tag)
READ: Lakeland Man Charged With Laundering Over $800,000 In Illegal Gambling Proceeds
About That Handcuff Key…
Florida law takes a dim view of concealed handcuff keys. According to Florida Statutes, possessing a key hidden in a way that suggests you’re trying to hide it from law enforcement is a felony. Examples include stashing it in a pocket without a keyring, on a necklace, or, you know, chained to an axe head. The idea is to prevent people from trying to escape custody.
Childers’ riding companion, 40-year-old Vanessa Day, also of Lakeland, didn’t escape the drama. She was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
So, the next time you’re cruising around Polk County, remember: maybe leave the axe-handcuff combo at home, and definitely register your vehicle.
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