A wanted Florida man was apprehended by authorities in Lakeland, Florida, after attempting to evade arrest by hiding in the ceiling of a business. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office reported that 38-year-old Joshua Garrett was taken into custody and charged with resisting arrest and felony criminal mischief.
The incident unfolded when deputies responded to a disturbance near US 98 North and Duff Road. Upon arrival, it was revealed that the individual causing the disturbance, later identified as Garrett, had fled the scene. Subsequent investigations confirmed that Garrett was wanted for violating his probation, stemming from prior convictions related to burglary, providing false information to a pawnbroker, and trafficking of stolen property.
Deputies initiated a search for Garrett in the vicinity and located the business where he was employed. Despite an initial search of the premises, Garrett remained elusive. Suspicion arose when deputies noticed displaced ceiling tiles and heard the sound of a ringing phone emanating from above.
Upon further inspection, law enforcement officers discovered Garrett concealed in the ceiling, with only his hand visible beneath the insulation. The sheriff’s office humorously noted that the hand was indeed attached to Garrett's body, averting a potentially eerie scenario. Garrett was safely extracted from the ceiling and subsequently transported to the Polk County jail to address his outstanding warrant.
In addition to the warrant, Garrett was charged with resisting arrest and felony criminal mischief for causing approximately $1,000 in damages to his employer’s ceiling during the escapade.
