A Tampa man working in the hurricane-stricken Dekle Beach area of Taylor County was arrested for stealing a fishing rod by Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies.
Anthony Gross, 23, was apprehended by Polk County Sheriff’s deputies deployed to the area in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
Gross was caught in the act and quickly confessed to the theft. He has been charged with theft during a state of emergency, a felony offense.
Read: Repeat Offender John Vona Of Eloise Arrested For Bicycle Theft: Polk County Sheriff
Polk County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the importance of law enforcement presence in disaster areas, stating, “We aren’t just there to look pretty. We’re there to enforce the law.”
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