Cocky fugitive's social media challenge to sheriff backfires in spectacular fashion
A wanted Florida man has been arrested after a series of social media posts taunting the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Sheriff Grady Judd for not being able to catch him.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office and Lakeland Police Department shared a series of Facebook posts by 29-year-old Aaron Donta Johnson, who was a wanted man for violating a pretrial release condition.
"Ya'll too busy fishing dats why yall didn't catch me when I left my grandmas house today," Johnson said in one post to Judd's department. "Should've waited a bit longer. Yall accepted da challenge right. #GradyCan't FindMe #ComeAgainGrady."
The posts, laden with poor grammar and bad spelling, appeared to be a dig towards Judd and his department for being too late to the scene. But that did not stop Judd and his team from responding to Johnson and taking on the challenge.
"Spoken like a true man. Way to take responsibility for your actions," the sheriff's office wrote. "No worries – we will find you. Bet."
As the posts continued, Johnson told the sheriff's office, "I done out ran yall several time. #ComeTryAgainGrady."
"Challenge accepted," the sheriff's office wrote.
In the final post shared by the sheriff's office, Johnson responded, "OK! I'll give you and ya crew a head start. Ya'll couldn't catch me on foot or in da car last time. Maybe you gonna need that horse or ya helicopter! #level up #ImGoneGrady."
Also accepting the challenge, unbeknownst to Johnson, was the Lakeland Police Department, after he bragged about not being caught despite having multiple felony warrants issued against him.
Johnson was ultimately captured by the Lakeland Police Department, who transported him to the Polk County Jail.
"What Aaron didn't know is – that we got their backs," Lakeland Police wrote on social media. "When Aaron Johnson jumped on Facebook and challenged the Polk County Sheriff's Office, bragging he couldn't be caught despite having multiple felony warrants, our LPD officers said, 'Challenge accepted.
"Today, that little game ended," the police department continued. "Our officers and detectives tracked him down and personally delivered him to the Deputies at the Polk County Jail. Nice Try, Aaron. Maybe next time…but probably not."
Judd has become known for his no-nonsense tactics when it comes to stopping crime in Polk County. He's also become infamous for making examples of criminals – Johnson was no different.
"You done messed up A-aron!" the Polk County Sheriff's Office said, referring to a hilarious and popular bit on the sketch comedy show, "Key & Peele." "You forgot all the agencies here in Polk work together............thanks LakelandPD for the find. #GotEm #TeamworkMakesTheDreamwork #PlayStupidGamesWinStupidPrizes #AaronRanButWeCaughtHimAnyway."
Johnson has been in and out of the Polk County Jail several times since at least 2015, on charges including drug possession, driving on a suspended license, domestic assault, burglary, and written threat to kill or injure another person, according to jail records.
He now faces several charges, including violation of pretrial release conditions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Man in New Smyrna Beach struck by lightning causing cardiac arrest, officials say
A man at New Smyrna Beach was struck by lightning Friday, June 20, at around 12:27 p.m., and was in cardiac arrest and unresponsive, according to immediate reports from rescue personnel. Volusia County Beach Ocean Rescue Director Tamara Malphurs said the incident occurred in the 4000 block of Atlantic Avenue. CPR was initiated. There were few details available Friday afternoon, but emergency dispatchers said the incident occurred just south of 29th Avenue. Emergency first responders also said the man, believed to be in his late 20s, was transported to Advent Health New Smyrna Beach. Dispatchers sending emergency workers to the scene said preliminary information indicated the victim was in a golf cart when the lightning struck. Paramedics transporting the man to the hospital said the victim was still unresponsive. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Lightning strikes man on beach
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Police arrest dad for leaving toddler son in hot car for 3 hours while getting haircut and drinking at bar
Police arrest dad for leaving toddler son in hot car for 3 hours while getting haircut and drinking at bar
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
California man suspected of killing 90-year-old father arrested in Switzerland
Authorities on California's Central Coast said a man suspected of killing his 90-year-old father has been arrested in Europe on suspicion of murder and is awaiting extradition back to the United States. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday that 54-year-old James Smallwood was arrested by authorities in Switzerland on May 29 in connection with the death of 90-year-old Robert Smallwood. According to deputies, relatives of the elder Smallwood reported him missing on May 18 after they were not able to contact him for several days. The following day, detectives and the sheriff's office Search and Rescue Team searched his property on Jarvis Road near the community of Scotts Valley. During the search, police located a deceased person, later identified as Robert Smallwood. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be homicide. A joint investigation by detectives and the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office "quickly" determined that James Smallwood was the suspect, deputies said. According to the sheriff's office, James had been living with his father and had fled to Switzerland before his father's body was discovered by authorities. With the help of the Swiss government, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, James Smallwood was located and taken into custody. Additional details about his arrest were not immediately available. "We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the SCSO Search and Rescue Team, the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office, our Forensics Unit, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and Swiss authorities for their critical assistance throughout this investigation," the sheriff's office said Thursday. James Smallwood remains in custody of Swiss authorities pending extradition proceedings. Upon his return to Santa Cruz County, he will be booked on charges of murder, elder abuse, vehicle theft and identity theft.
