Deputies find and arrest escaped inmate trustee

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Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies have located and arrested the escaped trusty inmate. 

Joseph Flanigan, 45, of Lakeland was found in North Lakeland in the area of Providence and Kathleen Road. Deputies have taken him into custody. 

Flanigan now faces charges of Escape and Grand Theft Auto. 

Flanigan had gone missing Thursday afternoon and was last seen at his assigned work location by Polk County employee at 3:30 p.m. at the county's fleet maintenance building on Bob Phillips Road. 

Deputies say they recovered the white Ford pick-up truck Flanagin was driving after he apparently abandoned it. 

Flanagin was arrested on September 22, 2016 charged with VOP Petit Theft 3rd Conviction, and was sentenced to 300 days in the county jail, where he had already served 66 trustee days.