POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Florida man brought an 8-year-old boy with him as he committed a series of crimes because he wanted to “toughen him up” so the child wouldn’t become “soft,” according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.Deputies said the first crime occurred on Nov.
7 when 36-year-old Ernest McKnight III stole an idling red Hyundai that was parked alongside State Road 60 and Central Avenue in Lake Wales as the driver was outside the car doing surveying for construction.[TRENDING: Gregory Edwards video released | SpaceX Crew-1 launch delayed until Sunday | Fatal Orange County crash]On Thursday, McKnight was caught rummaging through a Chevrolet HHR alongside County Road 653 as the owner was walking his dog, records show.