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Lake Wales
Friday, March 6, 2026

Lake Wales Man Found Hiding in Swamp After Fleeing from Police

Date:

Polk County Sheriff’s Office-

Last night (Oct 21/22) while you were sleeping (or trying to sleep in the Timberlane Road area of Lake Wales with the chopper making all that ruckus overhead), we were searching for John Riff, who fled on foot from a traffic stop in the area of Shellcracker Drive and Catfish Road. He buried himself deep in a muddy swamp, and a Lake Wales PD K9 flushed him out. Good boy!

Riff had a baggie of marijuana in the vehicle he stole, and he does not have a valid DL. He’s on felony probation for possession of meth. He was arrested and charged with: grand theft of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, driving without a license, and violation of probation.

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Allison

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