Topline: Authorities say the Lakeland woman called 911 for help while attempting to remove the child from a home where he was being babysat.
Published: February 18, 2026 6:53 am ET
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Nicole Terry Thomas (via Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
LAKELAND, FL — A 56-year-old woman is accused of impersonating an employee of the Florida Department of Children and Families and attempting to “remove” a child from a Lakeland residence Friday afternoon.
Nicole Terry Thomas was arrested Feb. 13 and booked on four counts of attempted kidnapping, unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling, two counts of criminal action under the color of law, misdemeanor trespassing and misuse of 911, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Deputies were dispatched around 3:22 p.m. after Thomas herself called the agency’s Emergency Communications Center requesting a deputy respond to help her remove children from a home, according to the sheriff’s office. “The caller identified herself as Thomas, and she claimed to be an employee of DCF,” the release states.
According to witness statements cited in Thomas’ arrest affidavit, she arrived at the residence with the boy’s biological mother and approached the home, where 28-year-old Nyasia Brooks was babysitting four children.
In a sworn, recorded interview summarized in the affidavit, Brooks told investigators that the 9-year-old came inside and said DCF was outside with his mother and was trying to take him. Brooks said someone then knocked on the front door and window, passing the curtilage of the residence, and claimed to be a DCF case manager there to pick up the child and return him to his mother.
Brooks told detectives that when she refused to let the boy leave, Thomas threatened to remove all of the children from the home. According to the affidavit, “Ms. Thomas proceeded to the end of the drive way and made a phone call to which she advised she would be working late due finding homes for all of the children she was going to be removing from the residence at (REDACTED).”
“At no point did Ms. Thomas present a DCF business card or proof or employment when requested,” the affidavit states. Brooks said she instructed Thomas several times to leave the property, but Thomas refused and instead called 911. Three other children were inside the home at the time, according to investigators.
Authorities said the boy’s biological mother has been diagnosed with mental disabilities and does not have custody of her son. During an interview with detectives, she said she knew Thomas through her church, where Thomas told her she worked for DCF and could help her get her life “back on track,” including regaining custody of her son.
Sheriff Grady Judd criticized Thomas’ actions in a statement released by his office.
“In what was probably the only smart thing she said or did that afternoon, Nicole Thomas admitted to detectives that she should have known better,” Judd said. “She impersonated a government employee, threatened to take four children, and even called 911 to try to get a deputy to help her pull it all off. I’d say she didn’t clearly think that one through.”
According to the sheriff’s office, Thomas has a prior criminal history that includes kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, child abuse, numerous frauds, thefts and dealing in stolen property.
During her first appearance hearing on Feb. 15, a judge ordered no bond on the attempted kidnapping charges. Her pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, court records show.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Nicole Terry Thomas (via Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
LAKELAND, FL — A 56-year-old woman is accused of impersonating an employee of the Florida Department of Children and Families and attempting to “remove” a child from a Lakeland residence Friday afternoon.
Nicole Terry Thomas was arrested Feb. 13 and booked on four counts of attempted kidnapping, unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling, two counts of criminal action under the color of law, misdemeanor trespassing and misuse of 911, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Deputies were dispatched around 3:22 p.m. after Thomas herself called the agency’s Emergency Communications Center requesting a deputy respond to help her remove children from a home, according to the sheriff’s office. “The caller identified herself as Thomas, and she claimed to be an employee of DCF,” the release states.
According to witness statements cited in Thomas’ arrest affidavit, she arrived at the residence with the boy’s biological mother and approached the home, where 28-year-old Nyasia Brooks was babysitting four children.
In a sworn, recorded interview summarized in the affidavit, Brooks told investigators that the 9-year-old came inside and said DCF was outside with his mother and was trying to take him. Brooks said someone then knocked on the front door and window, passing the curtilage of the residence, and claimed to be a DCF case manager there to pick up the child and return him to his mother.
Brooks told detectives that when she refused to let the boy leave, Thomas threatened to remove all of the children from the home. According to the affidavit, “Ms. Thomas proceeded to the end of the drive way and made a phone call to which she advised she would be working late due finding homes for all of the children she was going to be removing from the residence at (REDACTED).”
“At no point did Ms. Thomas present a DCF business card or proof or employment when requested,” the affidavit states. Brooks said she instructed Thomas several times to leave the property, but Thomas refused and instead called 911. Three other children were inside the home at the time, according to investigators.
Authorities said the boy’s biological mother has been diagnosed with mental disabilities and does not have custody of her son. During an interview with detectives, she said she knew Thomas through her church, where Thomas told her she worked for DCF and could help her get her life “back on track,” including regaining custody of her son.
Sheriff Grady Judd criticized Thomas’ actions in a statement released by his office.
“In what was probably the only smart thing she said or did that afternoon, Nicole Thomas admitted to detectives that she should have known better,” Judd said. “She impersonated a government employee, threatened to take four children, and even called 911 to try to get a deputy to help her pull it all off. I’d say she didn’t clearly think that one through.”
According to the sheriff’s office, Thomas has a prior criminal history that includes kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, child abuse, numerous frauds, thefts and dealing in stolen property.
During her first appearance hearing on Feb. 15, a judge ordered no bond on the attempted kidnapping charges. Her pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, court records show.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Florida Woman Accused of Impersonating DCF Worker to Take 9-Year-Old
Authorities say the Lakeland woman called 911 for help while attempting to remove the child from a home where he was being babysat.
By Jacob Charles
Published: February 18, 2026 6:53 am ET
Nicole Terry Thomas (via Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
LAKELAND, FL — A 56-year-old woman is accused of impersonating an employee of the Florida Department of Children and Families and attempting to “remove” a child from a Lakeland residence Friday afternoon.
Nicole Terry Thomas was arrested Feb. 13 and booked on four counts of attempted kidnapping, unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling, two counts of criminal action under the color of law, misdemeanor trespassing and misuse of 911, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Deputies were dispatched around 3:22 p.m. after Thomas herself called the agency’s Emergency Communications Center requesting a deputy respond to help her remove children from a home, according to the sheriff’s office. “The caller identified herself as Thomas, and she claimed to be an employee of DCF,” the release states.
According to witness statements cited in Thomas’ arrest affidavit, she arrived at the residence with the boy’s biological mother and approached the home, where 28-year-old Nyasia Brooks was babysitting four children.
In a sworn, recorded interview summarized in the affidavit, Brooks told investigators that the 9-year-old came inside and said DCF was outside with his mother and was trying to take him. Brooks said someone then knocked on the front door and window, passing the curtilage of the residence, and claimed to be a DCF case manager there to pick up the child and return him to his mother.
Brooks told detectives that when she refused to let the boy leave, Thomas threatened to remove all of the children from the home. According to the affidavit, “Ms. Thomas proceeded to the end of the drive way and made a phone call to which she advised she would be working late due finding homes for all of the children she was going to be removing from the residence at (REDACTED).”
“At no point did Ms. Thomas present a DCF business card or proof or employment when requested,” the affidavit states. Brooks said she instructed Thomas several times to leave the property, but Thomas refused and instead called 911. Three other children were inside the home at the time, according to investigators.
Authorities said the boy’s biological mother has been diagnosed with mental disabilities and does not have custody of her son. During an interview with detectives, she said she knew Thomas through her church, where Thomas told her she worked for DCF and could help her get her life “back on track,” including regaining custody of her son.
Sheriff Grady Judd criticized Thomas’ actions in a statement released by his office.
“In what was probably the only smart thing she said or did that afternoon, Nicole Thomas admitted to detectives that she should have known better,” Judd said. “She impersonated a government employee, threatened to take four children, and even called 911 to try to get a deputy to help her pull it all off. I’d say she didn’t clearly think that one through.”
According to the sheriff’s office, Thomas has a prior criminal history that includes kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, child abuse, numerous frauds, thefts and dealing in stolen property.
During her first appearance hearing on Feb. 15, a judge ordered no bond on the attempted kidnapping charges. Her pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, court records show.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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