Florida man pretended to be officer, sexually assaulted victim he met on dating website
WINTER HAVEN – A Florida man is accused of pretending to be a law enforcement officer, pulling a knife and sexually assaulting someone he met on a dating website, authorities said.
Thomas Lee Simmons, 37, of Winter Haven, was arrested Tuesday and charged with armed sexual battery, armed robbery, grand theft, dealing in stolen property and false information to a law enforcement officer, according to Polk County online booking records. He is being held without bond.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred at the Stay Plus Inn in Haines City. The victim told authorities that he had been speaking with Simmons on a dating website and arranged to meet him at the hotel, WFLA reported.
According to an arrest affidavit, the meeting soured after Simmons entered the hotel room and pulled out a fixed blade knife, WTSP reported. Simmons allegedly told the victim he was with the narcotics unit and had other officers posted outside the hotel room, the television station reported.
Simmons then allegedly told the victim to strip naked and lay on the bed, while pretending to talk on a radio to other people, WTVT reported.
According to the sheriff’s office, Simmons then took his own clothes off and sexually assaulted the victim. He then told the victim he had “agents” going to the victim’s sister’s house to “get her as well,” according to WFLA.
Simmons allegedly then robbed the victim of his driver’s license, passport, an iPhone, an Apple Watch, Air Pods and three pairs of Air Jordan sneakers, the television station reported.
The sheriff’s office said Simmons was later found at his girlfriend’s home in Winter Haven, WTSP reported. Deputies found the stolen items, along with a knife that matched the description given by the victim, the television station reported.
Simmons initially gave deputies a fake name during an interview but later provided his real name, the sheriff’s office said.
According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Simmons has a criminal history that includes charges of petit theft and possession of drug paraphernalia in Florida, as well as an assault charge in North Carolina.
“This was the act of a violent criminal with a criminal history, and the outcome could have been much worse,” Judd said in a statement. “I encourage anyone using online dating services to be cautious. Meet with strangers in a public place, like a restaurant, and never give out your personal information like your home address until you at least get to know that person better. Another safeguard is to tell a trusted loved one where you are going, and set up a time to check in with that person, just in case.”
