LAKE WALES, Fla. – A traffic stop over broken tail lights ended with the arrest of a Lake Wales man who had been wanted since 2023 on charges including armed kidnapping and aggravated assault, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Thomas Kenneth James, 42, was driving a white Ford Ranger when a deputy stopped him around 8:45 p.m. Sept. 29 near Rifle Range Road and State Road 60, south of Wahneta.
James immediately told the deputy his driver’s license was suspended, the Sheriff’s Office said.
A records check showed his license had been suspended since 2008. More significantly, deputies discovered an active Polk County warrant dating back to 2023.
The warrant charged James with armed kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and felony battery.
Details about the 2023 case, including what led to the charges and how long authorities had actively been searching for James, were not provided.
Deputies took James into custody without incident.
After his arrest, James told the deputy he had considered fleeing from the traffic stop but changed his mind when he saw a second deputy arriving, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
James was booked into the Sheriff’s Processing Center on the outstanding warrant. He was also charged with driving with a suspended or revoked license.