On August 25, 2026 at approximately 1:45 a.m., Winter Haven officers responded to a residence on Salisbury Dr. in Winter Haven where a neighbor was watching someone burglarize vehicles in the neighborhood. The caller watched the subject enter two vehicles and attempt to enter others.
When officers arrived, the subject had fled the neighborhood. With the assistance of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office aviation unit along with K-9, the area was searched with negative results. Utilizing investigative means, officers learned that 16 year-old Demarcus Johnson (DOB 3-21-2010) who lives on Edgewood Dr. was on probation and out after his curfew. (It should be noted that this residence is within a half-mile from the Salisbury Dr. where the burglaries occurred.)
Officers initiated a probation check at the home. As officers approached the home, they saw Johnson just outside. When Johnson saw officers, he ran, but was quickly apprehended in in the area of Dundee Rd and 19th St SE.
Johnson was taken back to his residence where his legal guardian gave consent for a search of Johnson’s backpack where officers located a hoodie and shorts matching what the video footage showed the suspect wearing as well as a matching beanie in Johnson’s possession.
Johnson was arrested and charged with 2 counts of Burglary of Unoccupied Conveyance (F3), Resist Officer W/O Violence (M2); Petit Theft (M3) and Violation of Probation.
“I applaud the resident who stepped up to call when something didn’t look right,” said Police Chief Vance Monroe. “Community safety is a shared responsibility and the quick action and willingness to get involved made a direct difference in keeping more citizens from becoming a victim.”
