A Polk County man was arrested Nov. 9 and charged with exploiting a disabled man.

  • Christopher Scarlett, 31, charged with one count of Exploitation of the Elderly/Disabled
  • Scarlett met, befriended victim while he was riding the bus to part-time job
  • Police said Scarlett took more than $1,000 from victim

Winter Haven Police detectives said Christopher Scarlett, 31, befriended a 44-year-old man with both physical and mental disabilities and then took his rent money.

"I was so just heartbroken,” said Donna Urbina, the victim’s mother. “I just can't imagine how a person can do that."

Urbina said her son met Scarlett while riding the bus to his part-time dishwashing job at a local restaurant.

"I asked my son, 'What happened to the money?' and he said ‘he told me he would be my friend and he told me he would introduce me to a girlfriend,’" Urbina said.

Police said Scarlett took more than 1,000 dollars from the victim over the course of three months, from August 3 to Oct. 3, 2017. Scarlett allegedly learned when the victim would have money deposited into his bank account, which included his pay from his job, and coordinated how much money he would ask of the victim based on the calendar.

At one point, according to detectives, when the victim couldn't afford to give Scarlett money, Scarlett threatened to kill him.

Now, Urbina said her son doesn’t have money for rent and could be evicted.

"It scares me,” Urbina said. “It makes me feel bad for everybody who's vulnerable that's out there."

When interviewed by detectives, Scarlett eventually acknowledged that he'd received money from the victim, that he was aware of the victim's disability and he continued to demand money from him.

"There are no words for someone who will take calculated steps to take advantage of a disabled person," said Chief Charlie Bird. "Scarlett is where he needs to be so he can't take advantage of anyone else."

Urbina has set up a GoFundMe page to collect donations in order to help her son avoid eviction. For more information or to help with a donation, visit: gofundme.com/recovery-for-rent-money.

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