Deputies: Man on 'secret mission' steals cigarettes, honey bun, energy drinks

A man arrested by Polk County deputies -- after throwing a piece of concrete through the glass door of a convenience store in an effort to steal energy drinks, cigarettes and a honey bun -- told them he was on a "secret and classified mission" when he committed the crimes, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said around 3:30 Tuesday afternoon, Ryan Fricks broke through the front door of the Little Dixie #2 store. Once inside, deputies said the 22-year-old took two packs of Newport cigarettes, two Monster energy drinks, and a honey bun. The total value of items he stole was around $20. The damage to the front door, however, was about $1,000.

Deputies said Fricks ran off, but, based on his appearance in the store's surveillance video, they found him using the Polk County Sheriff's Office aircraft unit. He was apparently hiding between two buses in the Frostproof Middle-Senior High School's bus parking lot.

Deputies who interviewed Fricks after arresting him quoted him as saying, "I was just wanting a drink, I didn't care about the [expletive] money... I busted the front door because I was thirsty."

He also told deputies he was walking to Frostproof from Lake Wales the night before, on a "secret and classified mission," but could not disclose details of what the mission entailed. He continued to confess for breaking into the convenience store and stealing the items.

He also revealed he hid in some bushes in the parking lot of a Foodway, drinking the energy drinks while watching units respond to the burglary. That's when he ran toward the school.

Fricks was charged with burglary of an unoccupied business, petit theft (first offense), and trespassing on school grounds. He was taken to the Polk County jail.