I am, for better or worse, a typical rule follower. Even though I’ve long been out of school and work independently as a freelancer, I still get anxious if I feel like I am breaking the rules. That is why I have to be extra vigilant to make sure that the person enforcing said rules is trustworthy. It is an instinct everyone should have, especially when it comes to any sort of government or law enforcement officer showing up at your door.
While there are perfectly legitimate scenarios for those people to show up, there are some people who would use these identities as a cover to try to get one over on you. Thankfully, one babysitter in Florida had the foresight to stand her ground when a woman came knocking on her door, trying to claim she was a child protective services worker coming to collect a boy in the sitter’s care.
Law & Crime reported that 56-year-old Nicole Terry Thomas allegedly posed as a government official and attempted to take a 9-year-old boy from babysitter 28-year old Nyasia Brooks, at 3:22 p.m. on February 13, 2026. According to a news release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Thomas claimed to be a Department of Child and Family Services worker and said she was there to take the boy to his biological mother. The young woman was babysitting four kids at the time.
“Nyasia advised someone then knocked on the front door and front window passing the curtilage of the residence advising she was a DCF case manager and was at the residence to pick up (VICTIM) and take him to his mother,” the statement read. “Nyasia advised once she told Ms. Thomas she was not taking (VICTIM) anywhere, she then threatened Nyasia stating she was going to remove all of the children from the home. 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. Nyasia also instructed Ms. Thomas several time to leave the property, however she refused to do so and called 911. The following children were inside the residence: (VICTIM 2), (VICTIM 3), and (VICTIM 4).”
Authorities also revealed that Thomas knows the boy’s biological mother from church, and that she evidently arrived at the home with Thomas. The boy’s mother has been diagnosed with several mental illnesses and did not have custody of the boy. Thomas had evidently convinced the mother that she was a DCF worker and could help her get her son back and get her life “back on track.”
“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. 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,” shared Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd in the statement.
Thomas was taken into custody and is being held without bond. She was charged with four counts of attempted first-degree kidnapping, additional counts of committing a criminal act under the color of law, trespassing after warning, misuse of 911 system, and unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling. Her pretrial hearing is scheduled for February 19.
