A Florida man faced arrest after attempting to evade a background check by impersonating an undercover police officer.
William Dennis Milstead, aged 64, was taken into custody last week. State authorities accuse him of falsely presenting himself as a law enforcement official, making deceitful statements to acquire property, and using a two-way communication device for felonious purposes, as reported by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Scheme Unravels Amid Rental Attempts
Milstead’s troubles began when a local real estate agency alerted authorities about his suspicious activities. He tried to lease a residential property while sidestepping the requisite background check—a move that would soon lead to his downfall.
The Deceptive Letter
To bolster his ruse, Milstead submitted a fabricated letter to the real estate agency, professing to be an undercover FDLE agent “working off-grid.” His justification centered around the claim that traditional checks could compromise his safety.
However, the letter was riddled with grammatical errors, indicative of a hasty attempt to validate a scheme that lacked any genuine foundation. It purported to be penned by an assistant captain of the FDLE’s fictitious “Off Grid Command Unit,” demanding an exception to the background check process.
“We ask that you make an exception to limit the background/credit check on William Dennis Milstead due to the security needed to protect our agent safety and rely solely on this letter of recommendation from the FDLE and State of Florida,” read a portion of the document. The letter further claimed that Milstead began working for the FDLE in October 2006 and was reportedly just three years away from retirement after two decades of service.
A Man of Many Arrests
Despite his elaborate facade, the FDLE discovered Milstead has a troubled history—13 prior felony arrests. Not only was he charged with impersonating an officer previously in 2002 and 2016, but this might also raise questions about the effectiveness of background checks industry-wide.
Milstead was processed at the St. Lucie County Jail shortly after his arrest on November 13, only to find freedom two days later post-payment of an $11,000 bond. The ongoing investigation conducted by the FDLE’s Orlando office suggests that the case is still evolving.
This bizarre incident serves as a reminder of the lengths to which some individuals may go in their quest for convenience, often at the expense of honesty. There is a certain absurdity in the notion that someone would knowingly forge a letter filled with errors—perhaps a reflection of the desperation to evade the routine checks designed to protect society.
While this tale of deception could evoke a chuckle or two, it encapsulates the more serious theme of accountability. Communities thrive on trust and integrity, qualities that these actions blatantly undermine. Florida, known for its vibrant real estate market and cultural richness, stands as an example of how vigilance is paramount in maintaining that trust.
