The former police chief of Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida, has resigned following allegations of an affair with the estranged wife of a man he was investigating for fraud. Michael Giddens, who had nearly three decades of law enforcement experience, was placed on administrative leave amid an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
A 78-page report from the agencies claims Giddens engaged in sexual relations with the unidentified woman while on duty. While no criminal wrongdoing was found regarding the affair itself, investigators determined Giddens violated police and town policies concerning moral character and sex on duty, according to WESH.
The scandal has reportedly shaken the town of approximately 1,870 residents. Giddens resigned last month, stating that his personal life was being targeted by individuals with "personal and political agendas." He wrote in his resignation that he was stepping down "to preserve the integrity of the Office of the Chief" and refused to allow his private life to distract from the agency's work.
The investigation began in December 2024 when Giddens, then a lieutenant, initiated a contractor fraud case against an unidentified suspect. He was promoted to police chief in October 2025 and continued to pursue the case.
In March 2025, after the suspect allegedly stopped responding, Giddens contacted the suspect's wife to help locate her husband. According to the report, the two began texting, and Giddens later met the woman at a hotel behind a local Chili's for lunch and consensual sex while he was on duty. A second instance of intercourse reportedly occurred months later in May. The relationship concluded in late 2025 when the woman entered a new relationship and began divorce proceedings.
Despite the relationship ending, Giddens continued to message the woman. In November, the woman's new boyfriend contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement after discovering text messages between his girlfriend and Giddens that indicated a relationship had formed while Giddens was investigating the woman's ex-husband.
When questioned by investigators in April, the woman acknowledged she had been texting with Giddens and her ex-husband. She stated that her sexual encounters with Giddens were consensual and that she did not feel harassed or cyberstalked, adding she did not want him to face trouble.
Giddens was placed on administrative leave on May 4 and resigned a month later. Town officials have stated that due to his resignation, they cannot impose employment-related disciplinary measures. They have published the report as a matter of record. John Batchelor is currently serving as interim police chief while the town searches for a replacement.
