Polk County deputy arrested for forging signature

A deputy in Polk County was arrested on Thursday for forging a woman's signature on an official report. Jake Germak, 21, from Winter Haven, is facing four felony charges. These include forgery and altering official documents. Sheriff Grady Judd emphasized that public servants must be honest and will be held accountable for unethical behavior. Germak is currently in South County Jail, with a court hearing scheduled for Monday afternoon. The incident began on March 17 when Germak was tasked with investigating a theft. He needed the woman's signature on a document but failed to obtain it. Later that night, he tried to contact her through calls and texts, telling her that everything was "handled." The next day, detectives followed up with the woman and learned about Germak’s messages. She was confused about what was required of her. When detectives checked the documents he submitted, they found that the woman's signature was forged. When confronted, Germak admitted to signing her name. Following his arrest, he resigned from the Sheriff's Office. Officials stated he would have been fired if he had not resigned.