Defendant pursued women and forced them off road before they escaped
MARIANNA – A man who chased and assaulted his female friend and a woman trying to help her escape him was found guilty of 2 counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon Tuesday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Kenneth Allen Polk, 42, of Slocomb, Ala., was charged by the Jackson County Sherriff’s Office with two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, after he pursued the women in a vehicle from Alabama. Six jurors took just under an hour to reach a verdict. Circuit Court Judge Ana Maria Garcia set sentencing for Aug. 12.
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 was a terrifying ordeal for both victims and we are grateful the jury saw that,” Gill said. “To be chased up and down U.S. 231 by an angry man at high speeds, forced off the road, threatened, and then have to hide in the back of a store until help arrives is hard to imagine. Our victims showed courage both that day, and in court by testifying against their attacker.”
The evidence showed the defendant and the first victim, his “on-again, off-again” girlfriend, were in Dothan, Ala., on Dec. 10, 2022, when they decided to go to a gaming/entertainment business. They took the woman’s car, with Polk driving, when Polk started an argument with the woman that began to turn physical.
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The woman was in fear and when Polk stopped the car at an intersection with U.S. 231 in Alabama, the victim broke away from Polk and ran to a car that was behind them in traffic for help. That female driver let the woman in her car and left driving south toward Florida.
The evidence showed Polk aggressively chased the women into Florida at speeds reaching 70 mph, while they were on the phone with 911 – and eventually forcing the driver off the road. He went to the driver’s window and began slapping it and pulling on the door handles before they were able to get back on the highway and flee again.
The Good Samaritan driver was able to get them to a Dollar General in Campbellton where both hid in the back until a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrived. The defendant had fled.
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.