A Sheriff’s office helicopter pilot’s actions recently led to the arrest of a prolific Central Florida criminal.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Helicopter pilot Arman was flying over Rifle Range Road and Bomber Road in Wahneta, when he noticed a motorcycle committing traffic violations last month. Arman radioed to patrol units on the ground and directed them to the motorcycle’s location.
A traffic stop was conducted on the motorcycle which had no license plate. The driver told deputies that his name was Charles Phillips.
Deputies discovered that the driver’s real name was 39-year-old Joe Edward Phillips, and the motorcycle had been reported stolen out of Osceola County on December 28, 2021.
According to local law enforcement, Joe Phillips’ driver’s license had been suspended in 2023; he also did not have a motorcycle endorsement on his license.
Joe Phillips was arrested and taken to the Polk County Jail where he was charged with grand theft motor vehicle, driving while license suspended (3rd subsequent offense), providing false ID to LEO, driving an unregistered vehicle, and failure to have required endorsement.
According to law enforcement, Joe Phillips has a prior criminal history that includes arrests for burglary, motor vehicle theft, grand theft, criminal mischief, and petit theft, and they said he has been to state prison four times for a total of 9.5 years.
