Criminal Defense Attorney for Lakeland, FL

If you were charged with a crime arising from a municipal ordinance, county ordinance, a Florida Statute Statute charged as a misdemeanor, or a criminal traffic violation charged as a misdemeanor,  then your case will be heard at the Lakeland Division of the County Court located at 930 East Parker St., Lakeland, FL 33801.

The Honorable Robert G. Fegers presides over cases assigned to County Court Lakeland – Section L1.

If you were arrested for a felony, then the State Attorney’s Office typically takes 21 days to decide whether to formally file charges. If formal charges are filed, then your case will be heard at the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow, FL.

Many of these cases involve an arrest by an officer with the Lakeland Police Department or the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Traffic crimes might also involve the Florida Highway Patrol.

No matter the circumstances, give us a call for a free consultation to discuss your case. Our attorneys focus exclusively on criminal defense.

We represent clients in and around Polk County, including cases at the courthouse in Lakeland, FL. Contact us for a free phone or office consultation to discuss your defense and things you might need to do right now to protect yourself.

Contact us to schedule a consultation to discuss the charges, possible defenses, and the best ways to aggressively fight the charges. Call (813) 250-0500 today.

Information on Lakeland Police Department

The Lakeland Police Department employs more than 200 sworn full-time officers (including one chief of police and several assistant chiefs, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, officers, and detectives). The office also employs more than 100 civilian employees.

If you were contacted by a law enforcement officer with the Lakeland Police Department, never make a statement until after you have retained a criminal defense attorney.

Even if you are completely innocent of any criminal wrongdoing, the statements you make can be used against you. Your criminal defense attorney is in the best position to explain your side of the story to law enforcement.

As a parent, you can also help your child invoke their right to remain silent if they are suspected of having committed a delinquent act that might be prosecuted in juvenile court.

DUI Defense in Lakeland, FL

The Lakeland Police Department makes over 500 DUI arrests each year. The LPD DUI Enforcement Unit takes an aggressive stance anytime a driver admits to consuming alcohol prior to driving.

If you have been arrested for DUI by a DUI enforcement officer with the LPD then contact an attorney at the Sammis Law Firm to discuss your case.

We fight DUI cases after an arrest in Lakeland, FL, and throughout Polk County, FL. Contact us to find out more about:

• possible penalties and punishments for a first DUI;
• the DUI “refusal” to submit to a breath, blood or urine test of your alcohol content or the presence of any controlled substance;
• a high blow on the breathalyzer used in Polk County, Florida, called the Intoxilyzer 8000; or
• DUI with property damage or bodily injury.

Even for a first DUI arrest, you should contact us to find out why we always recommend contesting the administrative suspension of your driver’s license.

If the DUI officer triggered an administrative suspension of your driver’s license with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) then you have the right to demand a formal review hearing to contest that suspension. The hearing takes place at the Bureau of Administrative Reviews office in Tampa, FL.

Never waive all your rights by seeking an immediate hardship license until after you understand all of the benefits of hiring an attorney to demand a formal review hearing.

Domestic Violence Battery Investigations in Lakeland, FL

The Lakeland Police Department’s Domestic Violence Response Team (DART) springs into action after any allegation involving violence or battery between individuals that are married, have children together, are related by blood, or have lived together in an intimate relationship including gay and lesbian couples.

Each of the four patrol squads in Lakeland employs a DART Officer and DART Team squad leader who provides guidance and support to other patrol officers that respond to domestic violence calls. Officers with the Lakeland Police Department often tell the person arrested that if a domestic violence call is made then “someone is going to jail.”

The officers are trained to make an arrest based on probable cause even if other physical evidence and testimony might contradict the alleged victim’s version of the events.

If you have been arrested for any domestic violence case such as a domestic battery, aggravated assault, felony aggravated battery with strangulation, or violations of an order for protection then contact an attorney at the Sammis Law Firm.

We also represent men and women who have been served with a petition for a protective order against domestic violence.

Additional Resources

Seizure for Forfeiture by Lakeland Police Department – If your U.S. Currency, vehicle, or other valuable property was seized for forfeiture by the Lakeland Police Department, an attorney can help you challenge the legality of the taking and fight to get the property back quickly. Learn more about how police in Lakeland, FL, use the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act (FCFA) to seize property allegedly used in violation of Florida law. In some cases, that property is turned over to a federal agency that adopts the seizure and forfeiture.

Lakeland Police Department on Facebook – Chief Lisa Womack was sworn in as the Chief of Police for the LPD on March 11, 2011. The LPD provides area businesses with the option of hiring off-duty police officers for security purposes. Officers with the Lakeland Police Department work closely with officers with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office who are focused on patrol, traffic, and special investigation units.

Polk County Jail Inmate Search – Review the jail inmate records to search for any person recently arrested or detained in Polk County, FL.

This article was last updated on Tuesday, November 29, 2022.