BARTOW — It took the combined efforts of the U.S. Marshals Task Force and detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to local and arrest a man wanted on charges that ranged from kidnapping to attempted strangulation.
Polk deputies finally did catch up with the man they were looking for, Shauncey Aubrey Miller of Lakeland. He was found in Volusia County, and taken into custody on a warrant out of Polk County for the kidnapping charges.
Carrie Horstman, public information officer for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, noted in her report that Miller, 20, had fled the Lakeland area at the beginning of November, following a report to law enforcement claiming that Miller had assaulted his ex-girlfriend. A warrant had been issued for his arrest.
That finally happened on Thursday, when the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force, which Polk detectives had been assigned to, found the fugitive Miller in Daytona Beach, where he was taken into custody and booked into the Volusia County Jail on his Polk warrant.
Polk detectives say it started with a violent incident in Lakeland.
What Lead to Miller Being Arrested?
The warrant had been issued for Miller’s arrest on Nov. 6.
“That evening, Miller got into an altercation with his ex-girlfriend, got into her car, choked her, pushed her out of her car, and took off with two children still inside,” Horstman noted in her report. “An Amber Alert was issued, and then cancelled shortly thereafter when Miller left the children with a relative, and fled.”
PCSO deputies began working with the U.S. Marshals office, found Miller in Volusia County and plan to extradite him back to Polk at a later date.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd noted that this is a fine example of how different law enforcement agencies can work together to solve criminal cases.
“Partnerships with local and federal agencies are invaluable,” the sheriff noted. “By combining our resources, we are able to apprehend violent criminals, whether they’re hiding here in Polk from another state, or hiding in another county or state with a Polk warrant.”
He added, “We appreciate all the hard work and dedication provided by our U.S. Marshals’ task force.”
What Charges Will Miller Be Facing?
Horstman noted that Miller has a criminal history that includes previous arrests for battery domestic violence, not having a valid drivers license, and failure to appear.
He now faces charges that include:
* Two counts of kidnapping;
* One count of robbery;
* One count of domestic battery by strangulation;
* and one count of burglary.
Conclusion
Ironically, on the same day that Miller was arrested, the FRFTF found Wesley Moman, 14, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who had a Tulsa warrant for his arrest for first degree murder and possession of a firearm by a juvenile.
Moman was located at the America’s Best Motel on Memorial Boulevard in Lakeland, taken into custody without incident and booked into the Polk County Jail, awaiting extradition to Oklahoma.
Michael Freeman is an Orlando journalist, playwright and author of the book “Of Cats And Wolves.” Contact him at Freelineorlando@gmail.com.
