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| Timothy Conrad / Polk County Sheriff's Office |
Published July 11th, 2025
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Winter Haven Man Arrested for Impersonating U.S. Marshal
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A Winter Haven man was arrested Tuesday, July 8, 2025, by deputies with the Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) after allegedly impersonating a federal law enforcement officer. Timothy Conrad, 59, faces multiple charges including impersonating a law enforcement officer, unlawful use of a police badge, and vehicle-related offenses.
Deputies were patrolling southbound on Highway 27 when they spotted a maroon and black Dodge Nitro on the roadside. The vehicle immediately drew attention due to its activated red and blue lights and K-9 decals on the rear windows, alongside a tow truck.
Upon investigation, deputies approached the driver, later identified as Conrad, who claimed to be a United States Marshal. Conrad presented a badge emblazoned with “Deputy US Marshal” and stated he was on plainclothes duty, operating "as needed." However, his story quickly began to unravel.
Conrad eventually admitted he was "semi-retired" and, when pressed for further credentials, was unable to provide a badge number or any agency-issued identification. Deputies also discovered another badge in his wallet that read “Fugitive Recovery Agent PA.” Conrad claimed he was "hired" by a man named Frank nearly three decades ago while living in Pennsylvania, but attempts to contact "Frank" proved futile as the provided number was out of service.
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Further inconsistencies emerged as Conrad admitted he had never received law enforcement pay, possessed no formal training, and could not verify his employment through any credible documentation. Detectives confirmed with the United States Marshal Service that Timothy Conrad had no record of employment with their agency.
Despite being confronted with this denial, Conrad maintained a belief in "Frank's authority," claiming he was assigned undercover work in the 1990s without any agency equipment or formal training. He also admitted his Facebook profile falsely stated he worked for the U.S. Marshals Service and that he had affixed an unassigned license plate to his Dodge Nitro.
Conrad acknowledged using the emergency lights to assist others, even at a traffic crash and to help a tow truck driver. However, his vehicle remained equipped in a manner consistent with active-duty law enforcement despite his lack of official affiliation.
Sheriff Grady Judd issued a stern warning following the arrest: “This individual went out of his way to portray himself as a federal agent—with badges, flashing lights, and a social media profile to match. Let this arrest be a reminder that pretending to be law enforcement is a serious crime and will not be tolerated.”
Conrad was arrested at the scene and booked into the Polk County Jail. He faces charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer (F3), unlawful use of a police badge (M1), unregistered motor vehicle (M2), and attaching an unassigned license plate (M2).
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