‘Ghosts, maybe:’ Man tries to cover for woman as lights turn off in Florida home, sheriff says

Deputies arriving at ‘empty’ home said they saw lights shut off, heard movement inside

Thomas Fowler and April Gonzalez (Polk County Sheriff's Office)

LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland man was arrested after telling deputies no one was in his home, despite lights turning off and “movement” being heard from inside, Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies said they arrived at the home in Lakeland after receiving a tip about April Gonzalez, 29, who had a warrant out for her arrest.

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When they reached the house, a man, Jonathan Fowler, 29, left the home and locked the door behind him, according to PCSO. Deputies said Fowler told them no one else was home, and he wouldn’t allow them inside without a warrant.

According to the PCSO’s Facebook page, “That seemed very peculiar given the way in which he quickly locked and closed the door. Even peculiarer (sic) was how the lights began shutting off inside the ‘empty’ residence and movement could be heard coming from within. Must have been termites...or earwigs. Ghosts, maybe.”

Deputies said they began calling for Gonzalez over their P.A. system, though that didn’t garner any response. However, deputies said when they brought out one of their K9 deputies, Fowler admitted that Gonzalez was inside the home.

According to deputies, they made their way into the home and were finally able to arrest Gonzalez. Fowler was also arrested and faces charges for resisting an officer without violence.

The department’s social media stated that the involved K9 unit was given a toy as a reward.


About the Author:

Anthony, a graduate of the University of Florida, joined ClickOrlando.com in April 2022.

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