WINTER HAVEN, Florida — A former law enforcement officer has been arrested following an internal investigation that revealed he falsified multiple time cards to receive thousands of dollars in unearned pay, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities arrested 25-year-old Ezekiel Williams on Tuesday, May 20, 2026. The former deputy sheriff faces multiple third-degree felony charges, including scheming to defraud, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, grand theft, and official misconduct.
According to agency records, Williams was initially approved on March 24, 2026, to work light-duty shifts within the Animal Control division due to an ongoing medical issue. His designated hours were set from Tuesday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., with Mondays reserved for approved paid time off or family medical leave to attend appointments.
The investigation began in April 2026 after Williams’ supervisor noted that the deputy was calling out of work frequently via text messages. The supervisor subsequently raised concerns to the law enforcement chain of command regarding Williams’ frequent absences from his light-duty assignment. A preliminary review of his time cards exposed significant discrepancies between his actual hours worked and his reported hours.
A comprehensive audit conducted by detectives over three separate pay periods confirmed that Williams falsely claimed 131.5 hours of uncompleted work. This misrepresentation resulted in fraudulent payouts totaling 4,318.39 dollars. Williams resigned from his position at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office following the launch of the inquiry.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd stated that the agency provided the deputy with every accommodation to manage his off-duty injury and maintain his employment through light-duty status. Judd added that the individual took advantage of the agency’s support to steal public money, and confirmed that Williams would have been terminated had he not resigned.
Records show Williams was first hired as a deputy sheriff with the agency on May 21, 2024. Following his arrest, he was booked into local custody and held on a 20,000 dollar bond, set at 5,000 dollars for each individual criminal charge.
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