Polk Deputies Nab Man Accused Of Armed Robbery After Brief Foot Chase

POLK COUNTY, FL — Polk County sheriff's deputies made an arrest in less than 25 minutes after an early-morning armed robbery Saturday at the Circle K store, 4980 Spirit Lake Road, near Winter Haven.

According to the arrest affidavit, a man approached a Circle K employee outside the store at 2:57 a.m., pointed a handgun at him and ordered him to take him to the cash register.

In addition to taking money from the register, deputies said the robber stole some Black & Mild cigars and a bottle of Mountain Dew before fleeing the store, heading north.

As deputies arrived in the area, they saw 24-year-old Keith Rhoden of Winter Haven, who was wearing black clothing and white Crocs, walking near a field north of Spirit Lake Road and Thornhill Road.

Deputies chased him through residential neighborhoods and finally found Rhoden hiding under a pickup truck at a residence in the Oak Preserve neighborhood at 3:20 a.m. Rhoden surrendered.

“The responding patrol deputies, aided by K-9 and aviation, handled this robbery exactly how you would want them to. This was a textbook response that resulted in a dangerous criminal being taken off of the streets very quickly," said Sheriff Grady Judd. "Credit also goes to the victim who provided a great description of the suspect and the direction in which he fled.”

The stolen money and cigars were found in Rhoden’s possession, along with the neon green face mask that he wore during the robbery. The handgun was recovered nearby.

Rhoden was charged with robbery with a firearm, armed burglary of a structure and violation of probation. His criminal history includes petit theft, resisting arrest without violence and providing a false name to law enforcement. His probation for felony petit theft had just started on July 20.

There were no injuries to the victim, deputies or Rhoden.