Wow! A wanted Florida man alerts deputies they're looking for him when his phone starts ringing

Talk about a bad time to get a phone call. A Florida man wanted by police was hiding while officers searched for him, and got out when his phone started ringing.

Joshua Garrett, 38, was arrested Saturday by the Polk County Sheriff's Office and charged with resisting arrest and criminal mischief after he was discovered hiding in the roof of the business where he worked.

It all started when deputies responded to a disturbance call in Lakeland. When they arrived, they were told that the man who had caused the disturbance had left the business; this person was later identified as Garrett.

Deputies soon realized Garrett was wanted for violating his probation, according to PCSO. He was previously convicted of burglary, providing false information to a pawnbroker and trafficking in stolen goods.

A search began and when deputies stopped at a business where he worked, they were able to confirm that Garrett had entered the business but never left.

An initial search of the property came up empty, but deputies noticed a few ceiling tiles out of place, and that's when Garrett's phone started ringing.

A search of the crawlspace resulted in the discovery of a hand protruding from under insulation.

“Fortunately, the hand was attached to a body, Garrett's, and not just a random disembodied hand,” the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post. “That would have taken this situation in a different direction.”

Garrett was removed from the roof and transported to the Polk County Jail, “probably all sweaty and covered in pieces of insulation,” the sheriff's office said.

One Facebook user responded to the story with this reminder: “Note to self: turn off phone when playing hide and seek.”

“Thanks again PSCO for being diligent. A penthouse, in FL, in this heat… you probably saved his life,” one social media user wrote.

Another social media user posted: “They can run but they can't hide, not in this county! Great catch PCSO. Thanks for keeping our communities safe and for the laughs (hashtags)!”

Senior Staff Writer
[email protected]

The longest-serving writer for BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a teenager. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.

Latest messages from Tom Tillison (see everything)

We have zero tolerance for comments that contain violence, racism, profanity, profanity, doxing, or rude behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it, click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for engaging with us in a fruitful conversation.