Florida Man Arrested for Breaking Into Stranger’s Home to Escape Wife
In an unusual turn of events, a man in Davenport, Polk County, Florida, found himself behind bars after breaking into a stranger’s home to dodge an argument with his wife. The incident unfolded on June 9, when local deputies responded to a concerned neighbor’s tip about unexpected lights and activity in a vacant rental property.
Found Cooking and Bathing Inside the Home
Officers discovered 44-year-old Jocelyn Charles inside the residence, where he was reportedly cooking and had just drawn himself a bath. The arrest affidavit revealed the stove was left on, lights were illuminated, and a cellphone was plugged into an outlet—signs Charles had been utilizing the home’s utilities without permission.
Charles admitted to staying in the home for four days to avoid confrontation with his wife, explaining his unauthorized use of the property’s water and electricity during that time.
Face of Charges: Burglary and Petit Theft
Now, Charles is charged with unarmed burglary and petit theft. Authorities confirmed he has no previous theft records but is currently held on a $10,000 bond for burglary and a $250 bond for theft. He remains in custody as the legal process unfolds.
Sheriff’s Office Injects Humor into Announcement
Adding a lighter tone to the case, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office took to social media with a post brimming with humor. Drawing playful parallels to the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the post joked about the bath temperature being “not too hot, nor too cold, but juuuuust right.”
The announcement also carried clever wordplay, including the hashtag #IfJoeIsConvictedHeWillSpendTimeBehindTheGuiltyLocksAndTheThreeBars, blending legal consequences with fairy tale references.
Despite the humor, officials emphasized that Charles admitted to unlawfully occupying the home and reiterated the seriousness of the charges.
