Career Criminal James Rye Arrested in Polk County on Drug and Theft Charges
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A welfare check on an unconscious man in a Highland City yard quickly turned into an arrest on multiple charges for 29-year-old James Rye, Sr. of Plant City.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded around 7:52 PM on Monday, July 21, after receiving a report of a man lying unresponsive in a yard. When emergency personnel arrived, Rye regained consciousness and appeared agitated. He claimed the last thing he remembered was pulling over on the roadside before waking up in a stranger’s yard. Medical staff cleared him at the scene.
However, deputies noticed inconsistencies related to the truck he had been driving. While Rye owned the vehicle, the license plate was not registered to it. A deeper search led to the discovery of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a distinctive wallet containing identification and personal cards belonging to a woman.
Initially, Rye denied knowing the woman, but later admitted he did. Authorities are still investigating how he came into possession of the stolen ID and wallet.
Rye was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail. He now faces the following charges:
Attaching an Unassigned Tag
Possession of Methamphetamine
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
According to law enforcement, James Rye is a career offender with a lengthy criminal history, including arrests for burglary, grand theft, firearm theft, fraud, aggravated assault, battery, and multiple drug-related offenses.
