Early Wednesday morning, two men were arrested in northern Lakeland by Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies following a tip from an alert witness. According to the official report on the Polk County Sheriff's Office website, the incident unfolded in the May Grove Village area at around 3 a.m., where the suspects attempted to escape in a golf cart.
The pair, identified as 21-year-old Bradley Shaw and 20-year-old Caiden Kirkland, both residents of Lakeland, were subsequently detained by the authorities. Deputies recovered discarded items including gloves, a mask, and a hoodie — believed to be linked to the suspects' alleged criminal activities.
Following their arrest, Shaw and Kirkland were charged with numerous offenses. These charges included three counts of unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling with a mask enhancement, two counts of trespassing, six counts of loitering and prowling, conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of burglary tools, tampering with physical evidence, resisting arrest without violence, burglary of a conveyance, petit theft 2nd offense, and unlawful possession of personal identification.
Shaw and Kirkland currently remain in custody at the Polk County Jail, their criminal conduct halted by law enforcement aided by vigilant residents. In their haste to evade capture, the suspects' abandonment of incriminating items provided crucial evidence for the deputies' investigation.
With the investigation still in progress, further details may emerge regarding the specifics of the burglaries and the full extent of the duo's alleged crime spree. The Polk County Sheriff's Office has not released additional information regarding the motivations or the complete list of stolen items related to these incidents.
