Veteran Officer Caught Lying About Reported Crime, Lakeland Police Say

Veteran officer caught lying about reported crime, Lakeland police say

A Lakeland officer was arrested on Friday after investigators said he falsely reported a crime after his vehicle was damaged, according to the police department.In a release, police said that the officer — Michael Hayes, 42 — had reported the crime earlier that afternoon.More specifically, detectives said that Hayes had claimed there were three children who threw an “object” at his patrol vehicle while he was driving, shattering the back window.…

Lakeland detective arrested after falsely reporting crime: Polk deputies

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A detective with the Lakeland Police Department was arrested on Friday after Polk deputies said he falsely reported a crime. According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Officer Michael Hayes called deputies to report that three unknown juveniles threw an object at his agency-issued vehicle, an unmarked Chevrolet SUV, while he was driving on Yates Road in Lakeland. He said the SUV's back window was shattered due to t…

Lakeland police veteran charged with false crime report

Deputies said photo evidence revealed Lakeland police officer Michael Hayes lied about how his cruiser's window broke, blaming the damage on a group of kids.

Off-Duty Lakeland Police Officer Arrested For False Report

Veteran Detective Charged After Allegedly Falsifying Account of Vehicle Damage LAKELAND, Fla. – An off-duty Lakeland Police officer, 42-year-old Michael Hayes, was arrested on Friday, July 19, 2025, by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) for filing a false report of a crime. Hayes, a 12-year veteran assigned to the Property Crimes Unit, allegedly fabricated […] Off-Duty Lakeland Police Officer Arrested For False Report