LAKELAND, Fla. — 'Twas the fourth day after Christmas when Polk County deputies were able to arrest a man accused of stealing gifts from an east Lakeland home days before the holiday.
According to the sheriff's office, Raheim Johnson, 28, was located by members of the U.S. Marshals Service and arrested on Wednesday at the Knight's Inn motel in Plant City on several burglary charges.
Last week, Sheriff Grady Judd said at 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 20, Johnson broke into a home in the area of Longfellow Boulevard in east Lakeland. A single mother had left the house just minutes prior.
"This is called, 'the Grinch from Christmas 2021 with eggnog brain,' and we want him in jail...I want him to wake up in the county jail on Christmas. Give me that for my Christmas present, please?" Judd said at the time.
Video showed Johnson walking in and out of the home taking things from the house. Among the items stolen was a work laptop, a 36-inch TV and the Christmas presents meant for two girls, ages 8 and 11.
According to Judd, Johnson stole about $1,600 worth of items from the home.
Johnson reportedly told Polk County deputies he was upset with them because due to the notoriety of this case, none of his friends or family members would let him stay with them.
Despite his requests to be taken to the Hillsborough County Jail instead, Johnson is currently being held at the Polk County Jail with no bond, according to the sheriff's office.
As for the presents, detectives say Johnson refused to cooperate with them and they have been unable to recover the stolen items.
However, the Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc., Polk County Toys for Tots, and a local businessman helped replace the family's stolen gifts.
"I’m very disappointed Mr. Johnson did not tell deputies where the gifts are. My guess is he sold them soon after they were stolen. I thank the U.S. Marshals Service for finding this Grinch. For now, he’s in jail. We will work hard to make sure he’s held accountable for stealing a family’s Christmas.
"I’m also very thankful to all those who provided us tips on who Johnson was and where he was. Because of these tips, we kept him on the run, lying low, and hopefully, he did not have a chance to steal from innocent citizens while we looked for him," Judd said in a statement.