Florida man behind bars for having a milk crate

Booking photo for Timothy Troller, 34. (Polk County Jail)

A Florida man is behind bars after he was busted with a milk crate, according to a report.

The crate was attached to a bicycle that Timothy Troller was riding when he was stopped in Auburndale Thursday night by a deputy with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, WFLA-TV reports.

Troller was arrested and charged with possession of a dairy crate, a misdemeanor, the station reported Friday. As of Saturday the 34-year-old man was still being held at the Polk County Jail.

Troller’s grandfather Edward Hale told the station he didn’t know having a milk crate was a crime.

“I never heard of it,” he said. “This is the first time ever. He didn’t know it was against the law or he wouldn’t have put it on the front of the bicycle and rode up and down the road.”

Polk County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Carrie Horstman defended the arrest.

“You’re possessing something that is stolen from a business, whether it’s as small as a milk crate, or a shopping cart,” Horstman told WFLA. “He was charged with possessing stolen property. He may pay a fine or spend a few days in jail.”

The milk crate was the property of Sunshine Dairy Farms. Troller claimed he found it on the side of the road, the station reported.

Hale admitted his grandson has a long rap sheet but still disagreed with the arrest.

“Wait until he does something wrong,” he told the station. “That’s the way I feel about it. It’s silly to me and besides if it was (illegal) it shouldn’t be enough to carry you to jail.”