Sheriff: Park infested with lewd behavior

POLK COUNTY, Fla. - Saddle Creek Park in Polk County has a playground for kids to swing and water for kids to fish.

It also has nature trails for kids to hike, except those trails are often hijacked by adult behavior.

"We have fought the problem in that park my entire adult life," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

During an undercover investigation, d etectives continued to fight the problem of lewd behavior in the park Wednesday, arresting five men for offering sex acts in broad daylight.

The arrests included Kevin Condor of Auburndale, Jesus Garcia of Fort Meade, Patrick Hayes Jr. of Winter Haven, Robert Lash of Lakeland, and James Fleming, also a resident of Lakeland.

Several are married men, according to PCSO. Lash is 74 years old.

Thursday, 11-year-old Joey Williams fished at his favorite spot, unaware of the bust that recently took place nearby.

"We take them home sometimes and eat them," Joey said.

His uncle, Gilbert Hornsby, keeps an almost paranoid watch over Joey.

"These people are sitting in their cars. They watch you all the time," Hornsby said. "You can't turn your back on them."

Hornsby admits that in 45 years of fishing at Saddle Creek Park, despite constant undercover busts, men won't stop parking their cars at nature trails, offering sex acts.

"We don't want any of that stuff going on around our children," he said. "We'd like to see the park get cleaned up, these kind of people kept out of here so we can come out here and enjoy ourselves with our families."

Wednesday's arrests follow another recent bust at the park two months ago, when eight men were arrested.