The following is a press release by WHPD:
“A vehicle burglary at Zaxby’s lands a homeless man in jail facing multiple charges.
On March 14, 2026 at approximately 9p.m., officers responded to Zaxby’s, located at 797 3rd St SW in Winter Haven in reference to the initial call of a suspicious incident. Officers arrived and found a female frantically pacing along the sidewalk in front of the restaurant along Hwy 17.
She told responding officers that a black male, identified as 34 year-old Jamaal Michael Grayson (DOB 9-24-91, Homeless) had opened the rear door of her truck where her 17 year-old son was sitting. When Grayson saw the boy, he left the truck and attempted to open two more vehicle doors in the parking lot.
The owner of the truck along with his son confronted Grayson at which time Grayson started running towards Hwy 17. As they entered Hwy 17, Grayson turned and punched the 17 year-old in the face and knocked him to the ground in the lane of travel on Hwy 17. The owner of truck continued to run after Grayson ultimately catching him in the parking lot of Longhorn Steakhouse (875 1st St S, Winter Haven). Grayson swung at the victim and the victim punched Grayson causing him to fall, allowing the victim to hold Grayson until officers arrived.
Upon officers’ arrival, Grayson initially denied being at Zaxby’s, but changed his story saying he was there “looking for his lady.” He indicated that a group of people started chasing him and he pushed someone down in the roadway, but he was unable to say who.
A check on his criminal history indicated that Grayson had a prior felony battery conviction from October 2019 and a criminal mischief charge in February of this year.
As officers searched Grayson, they located a glass pipe with a burnt exterior and white residue in his pants pocket. The residue tested positive for Methamphetamine.
Grayson was transported to the Polk County Jail for one count each of Attempted Burglary of an Occupied Vehicle, Child Abuse not Resulting in Great Bodily Harm, Possession of Methamphetamine, Criminal Mischief less than $1,000, Prior Conviction, Felony Batter and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.”
