Crime & Safety

Search On For Escaped Polk County Inmate

Breaking: A Lakeland man slipped custody Thursday afternoon in the Bartow area.

LAKELAND, FL — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is asking folks to keep their eyes out for an inmate that escaped custody Thursday afternoon.

According to the agency, Joseph Flanagin, 45, of Lakeland was last seen at the Polk County fleet maintenance building at 2490 Bob Phillips Road in Bartow around 3:30 p.m. Nov. 17. Flanagin is accused of taking a white Ford pickup truck to make his escape.

The truck has been recovered, but Flanagin has not, an email from the sheriff's office said.

Find out what's happening in Lakelandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Flanagin was arrested on Sept. 22 on a violation of probation charge related to petty theft. It was his third conviction, the sheriff’s office noted. Flanagin had served 66 days of a 300-day sentence in the county jail at the time of his escape, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputies say Flanagin stands 6 feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds. He has a shaved head and hazel eyes.

Find out what's happening in Lakelandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Flanagin is now wanted on auto theft and escape charges.

No further information is available at this time.

Photo courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office

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