POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Lakeland woman who posed as a Department of Children and Families (DCF) employee was arrested after trying to ‘remove’ a 9-year-old boy from a local home last week, according to the sheriff’s office.
In a release, deputies said that they were sent to the home shortly before 3:30 p.m. on Friday after the woman — identified as 56-year-old Nicole Thomas — called 911 to ask for a deputy to help her remove the children from the home.
“The caller identified herself as Thomas, and she claimed to be an employee of DCF,” the release reads. “According to witness statements, Thomas arrived with the victim’s biological mother and approached the home, where (a woman) was babysitting four children.”
According to the arrest affidavit, Thomas had threatened to take all of the children from the home if the babysitter didn’t give up the 9-year-old.
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“Thomas proceeded to the end of the driveway and made a phone call to which she advised she would be working late due (to) finding homes for all of the children she was going to be removing from the residence...” the affidavit reads. “At no point did Ms. Thomas present a DCF business card or proof of employment when requested.”
Deputies also revealed that the boy’s biological mother has been diagnosed with mental disabilities and doesn’t have custody of her son.
During an interview with detectives, she claimed that she knew Thomas through her church, where Thomas reportedly said that she worked for DCF and would be able to get the mother’s life “back on track.”
Thomas was ultimately arrested and now faces charges of unarmed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, trespassing, misuse of 911, two counts of criminal action under the color of law, and four counts of attempted kidnapping. She is held without bond.
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“In what was probably the only smart thing she said or did that afternoon, Nicole Thomas admitted to detectives that she should have known better,” Sheriff Grady Judd said. “She impersonated a government employee, threatened to take four children, and even called 911 to try to get a deputy to help her pull it all off. I’d say she didn’t clearly think that one through.”
According to investigators, Thomas has a prior criminal history that includes kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, child abuse, numerous frauds, thefts and dealing in stolen property.
Her pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19.