43-year-old Jason Allan Braden of Lakeland / PCSO
By Staff Reporter
iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published July 26th, 2026
LAKELAND, Fla. — A vigilant Chick-fil-A employee is being credited with helping Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies quickly locate and arrest a burglary suspect after reporting suspicious activity near the restaurant.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on July 23, 2026, at the Chick-fil-A on South Florida Avenue in south Lakeland.
Investigators said the employee noticed a suspicious man walking through the restaurant's parking lot while appearing to look into parked vehicles. Although the man did not attempt to enter any of the vehicles, the employee continued watching his actions.
Authorities said the suspect then walked to a nearby vacant residence, forced open a screen door, and entered the home.
The employee immediately contacted the Polk County Sheriff's Office, prompting multiple deputies to respond to the area.
Before deputies arrived, the suspect fled the residence. However, a shift lieutenant later spotted a man riding a bicycle behind a nearby Publix who matched the description provided by the witness.
Deputies stopped the bicyclist and confirmed he was the burglary suspect.
The suspect was identified as 43-year-old Jason Allan Braden of Lakeland. He was arrested and charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling. During the arrest, deputies also discovered Braden was allegedly in possession of a baggie containing methamphetamine.
Braden was transported to the Polk County Sheriff's Office Processing Center without incident.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Braden has an extensive criminal history that includes prior arrests involving trespassing, criminal traffic offenses, battery, criminal mischief, burglary, loitering and prowling, and carrying a concealed weapon.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office praised the Chick-fil-A employee's attentiveness, noting that the employee's willingness to report suspicious behavior played a significant role in the suspect's swift apprehension.
Source: Polk County Sheriff's Office
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