Police cruiser at the scene.
Police cruiser at the scene.

Lakeland detective arrested for filing false report about damaged police vehicle

Posted by
1 min read
July 22, 2025

LAKELAND, Fla. — A Lakeland Police Department detective was arrested Friday after allegedly filing a false report about damage to his unmarked agency vehicle, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Michael Hayes, 42, was charged with one misdemeanor count of filing a false report of a crime. Deputies say Hayes claimed three unknown juveniles threw an object at his unmarked Chevrolet SUV while he was driving on Yates Road in Lakeland, shattering the rear window.

Hayes also told investigators he ran over a sign while attempting to pursue the youths and later reported the incident after contacting his supervisor.

However, detectives uncovered a photo of the vehicle taken a full day before Hayes filed the report. The image showed the back window already broken. When confronted, Hayes reportedly admitted that he believed his child may have broken the window with a baseball and said he panicked before filing the false report.

He was booked into the Polk County Jail and later released on a $1,000 bond.

Lakeland Police Chief Sammy Taylor confirmed Hayes, a 12-year veteran assigned to the Property Crimes Unit, was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

“The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has our full cooperation as they proceed with their criminal investigation,” Chief Taylor said in a statement.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Breaking News

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version