Polk County Sheriff’s Office –
58-year old Charles Ferguson of Winter Haven was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
On September 23rd, PCSO deputies were contacted about multiple retail thefts by one suspect at the Spirit Lake Publix in Winter Haven.
During the most recent theft, a store employee stopped Charles Ferguson as he was walking out of the store with sixteen bottles of Dawn soap that he hadn’t paid for. Charles ran outside and got into a white Kia Soul.
The store employee knew Charles’ name, because Charles is a frequent customer (and apparently a frequent thief) at that Publix, and recently had to show his ID during a pharmaceutical purchase.
Deputies made contact with Charles at his Avenue Q NW residence and arrested him.
It was determined that Charles had carried out five previous retail thefts at the store, stealing $800 worth of Tide Pods and Dawn soap.
Charles confessed to his crimes, and said that he had been selling the stolen merchandise to other(s).
Charles Ferguson has an extensive criminal history of retail theft, and was out on bond for felony retail theft following an August 8th arrest.
Deputies charged Charles this time with: grand theft, scheming to defraud, and dealing in stolen property.
