POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A traffic stop conducted by Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) deputies on Saturday evening resulted in the recovery of two missing and endangered children from St. Petersburg.
On February 1st, at approximately 5:20 p.m., deputies stopped a red 2003 Mercury Mountaineer at 1060 Commonwealth Avenue in Polk City. The driver, 34-year-old Twanda Neal, and the front-seat passenger, 50-year-old Anthony Davis, both from St. Petersburg, were identified.
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Deputies discovered that Neal had an outstanding warrant from Pinellas County for child abuse. Two children, who had been reported as missing and endangered, were found in the back seat of the vehicle.
During the traffic stop, Neal called 911 and claimed to be in fear for her life. Deputies instructed her to hang up the phone and exit the vehicle, but she refused and resisted. As deputies attempted to remove Neal from the car, Davis struck the deputies multiple times.
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Both Neal and Davis were arrested. The two children were placed in the custody of the Florida Department of Children & Families.
Neal was arrested on the Pinellas County warrant and also charged with misuse of 911 and resisting arrest. Davis was charged with two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting with violence.
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