'Here's Your Sign,' Judd Said About Man Who Took From Goodwill

LAKELAND, FL — A Lakeland man was accused of stealing donated items that sat outside a local second-hand store Tuesday night, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

An officer observed fifty-three-year-old Charles Gozzola going through the covered donation area at Goodwill, 5411 South Florida Ave., where people drop off goods at about 11:40 p.m. Police said he loaded the items he took into a silver 2008 Chrysler Town & County van. The officer tried to pull him over as he left the parking lot, authorities said. After the patrol car drove in front of the van, Gozzola swerved around him and sped off, according to deputies.

The suspect stopped his van on County Road 540A near South Florida Avenue, investigators said, and he ran away. A nearby bicyclist informed the officer that the suspect ran toward a nearby bank. Gozzola was arrested on the following charges, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office:

• Burglary of a structure
• Felony petit theft
• Resisting arrest
• Criminally cited for fleeing to elude and knowingly driving while license suspended/revoked

“First, I'd like to thank the bicyclist who aided our deputies with locating the suspect," Sheriff Grady Judd said. "Secondly, just because these items are donated, doesn’t mean you can just help yourself to them. It’s plain and simple theft to take them, and for those who can’t figure that out on their own, a sign is posted right where these items were taken from that literally says, ‘Removing items from this location is considered theft and is illegal.’ As the saying goes, ‘There’s your sign.’”