MARIANNA – A man who chased and assaulted his female friend and a woman trying to help her escape him has been sentenced to 48 months in prison, Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Kenneth Allen Polk, 42, of Slocomb, Ala., was found guilty June 25 of two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. He was arrested by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies after he pursued the women in a vehicle from Alabama. Circuit Court Judge Ana Maria Garcia Tuesday sentenced Polk to 48 months in prison.
Prosecutor Lawrence Gill along with co-counsel Jake Mitchell called four witnesses – including the two victims and the first Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputy on the scene – and presented evidence proving the defendant committed the crimes on Dec. 10, 2022, during an outing that began in Alabama.
“This has been an emotional and frightening ordeal for both victims and we are glad to see the defendant is going to pay a price for his decisions that day,” Gill said. “This was a nightmare for them and we hope this helps bring them some peace.”
The evidence showed the defendant and the first victim, his “on-again, off-again” girlfriend, were in Dothan, Ala., on Dec. 10, 2022. They were in the woman’s car, with the defendant driving, when Polk started an argument that began to turn physical.
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When Polk stopped the car at an intersection with U.S. 231 in Alabama, the victim broke away and ran to a car that was behind them in traffic for help. That female driver let the woman in and left driving south toward Florida.
The evidence showed Polk aggressively chased the women into Florida while they were on the phone with 911. He forced them off the road and tried to get in the car when they again escaped, eventually taking refuge in a store until Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived.
Basford thanked the 911 operator and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for their response to and handling of the situation.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.