Missing  4 Yr. Old Polk County Girl, Rebecca Lewis, Spotted In Georgia 

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$3,000 Reward Offered

UPDATE Monday 6:30am: Missing four-year-old

The TBI (Tennessee Bureau of Investigations) has had a credible report of a possible sighting of Hogs and Rebecca in the area of Cove Lake State Park in Campbell County Tennessee.

Sometime between 10:00 – 11:00 pm, last night, Sunday, October 9, 2016, a park ranger reported seeing a man and child matching Hogs and Rebecca’s description at the park

Law Enforcement agencies in Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama are aware of the sighting and area news agencies are already reporting the sighting.
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UPDATE

4-year-old Rebecca Lewis and 31-year-old “West Hogs” (his legal name) were spotted in Forsythe Georgia at a gas station just of I-75 at about 6:30 p.m. today. Rebecca was in good health. She can be seen wearing a pink dress and he was wearing a light colored t-shirt and blue jeans. He is still driving a 2012 Grey Nissan Versa 4-door with Alabama Handicapped plate: 4JL26 (reported as stolen out of Alabama). They are still at large. It is unknown what direction of travel they were going, except that they were obviously driving north from Florida.

A telephone tips hotline has been set up for tips regarding the whereabouts of Rebecca and Hogs: it is 1-877-419-0934. Anyone who has any information about this case is asked to call this number.

The local search for Rebecca (in the immediate and nearby neighborhoods) has been discontinued. The Amber Alert is still in place.
As reported earlier: Today, Saturday, October 8, 2016 at approximately 11:12 a.m. Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to 6211 U.S. Hwy. 98 North #H18 Lakeland (Lazy Dazy Retreat RV/Mobile Home Park) regarding a reported missing four-year-old girl, Rebecca Lewis.  The victim’s 16-year-old sister last saw her sleeping at about 9:00 a.m. At approximately 9:45 the sister woke back up and the victim was not in bed. According to the parents of Rebecca, they searched the area for over an hour before calling law enforcement. Once deputies arrived they conducted multiple searches of the residence and conducted a house by house search of the park with negative results.

Sheriff’s Office K-9 and bloodhound responded and conducted searches with negative results. The PCSO helicopter also responded to assist deputies with the search.

Woman Allegedly Stabs Man To Death After Arguing Over K2

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Update : Several witnesses were interviewed and detectives discovered that the suspect and victim were involved in a physical altercation inside her vehicle. The victim arrived at his residence and exited the vehicle. The suspect exited the vehicle and pursued the victim. After the suspect caught up to the victim, witnesses observed her holding an unknown object in her right hand and striking the victim in the chest with a downward motion, which corroborated the observations from the witnesses. The suspect admitted to stabbing the suspect. The suspect was charged with 2nd degree murder.

The victim was transported to Lakeland Regional Health where he was pronounced dead. 

Arrested:  Precious Colbert, 27, 1727 Washington Avenue, Lakeland, FL.

LAKELAND, Florida – The Lakeland Police Department responded to a home on Whitehurst Street at approximately 6:53 p.m., in reference to a stabbing that had just occurred. Responding officers discovered the victim lying on his back in the front yard. A female suspect was also in the front yard crying and was taken into custody. The victim was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Center and later pronounced deceased. The suspect and the victim were arguing over synthetic marijuana, also known as K2 or Spice.

The Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene and at this time witnesses are still being interviewed.  The suspect has been identified as Precious Colbert, 27 years old. Colbert has not been charged at this time as the investigation is still ongoing. 

The victim has been identified as Devontae Poole, 20 years old, Lakeland, Florida.

Carjacking Suspects Arrested Following Hostage Situation In Lakeland 

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Carjacking Suspects Arrested Following Hostage Situation In Lakeland 

Lakeland, Florida -On October 8, 2016, at 8:30 a.m., the Lakeland Police Department was requested by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) to respond to the McDonalds located at 5325 S. Frontage Road.
HCSO was attempting to apprehend three suspects who had committed an armed carjacking in the Brandon area. The stolen vehicle was spotted on I-4 and followed as it exited at County Line Road.  After some evasive maneuvers by the suspects the vehicle crashed
into a truck at the intersection of County Line Road and Frontage Road. 

 The three suspects then fled on foot toward the McDonalds restaurant and gained entry by climbing through the drive-thru window.  HCSO SWAT and Hostage Negations Teams (HNT) responded along with LPD liaisons from SWAT and HNT.  Lakeland officers assisted by containing a perimeter for approximately six hours while the suspects remained inside the business.  

Officers learned that upon fleeing from the vehicle, the three suspects attempted to carjack an additional vehicle and were unsuccessful.  After that failed attempt, the suspects then entered McDonalds via the drive-thru window.  One of the suspects entered a customer’s car and crawled through it to gain access to the business.  While this was occurring, a manager outside the restaurant alerted customers and employees to what was going on and had them exit the business.  Two employees were held inside the business for an extended period of time.  At approximately 2:30 p.m., one suspect and 2 hostages exited the building.  The suspect was taken into custody without incident.  Two suspects remained within the business until approximately 3:30 p.m.  One suspect exited on his own and the other exited after a distraction device was utilized by HCSO SWAT.  No persons were injured during this portion of the incident.  Please direct any questions regarding the carjacking and pursuit to HCSO Public Information Officer.

The investigation was delayed due to a false report that another person was being held hostage in the bathroom. Edward Potter, Jr. made Facebook post and calls to his sister claiming that he was being held hostage inside the McDonalds bathroom. Potter was charged by the Lakeland Police Department for giving False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer. Potter was later transported to the Polk County Jail.

Suspects are Eugene Willis, DOB 1/2/1994, Wingate Drive, Orlando. Sedrick Hamilton,  DOB 10/26/1992, Edwina St., Orlando. Justin Crumpton, DOB 8/5/1998, Elese St., Orlando. 
Each of the suspects were charged with Burglary to a Conveyance, Robbery with a Firearm, Armed Burglary, and two counts of Armed Kidnapping. Two firearms were recovered.  The suspects are from the Orlando area and had no known ties to Polk or Hillsborough Counties.  The standoff was resolved with no injuries to anyone as a result of the mutual aid efforts of neighboring agencies.

BoCC opening campgrounds, ATV Park

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BoCC opening campgrounds, ATV Park
BoCC opening campgrounds, ATV Park
 
Bartow, Fla. (October 7, 2016) — Polk County Parks and Recreation will be re-opening all camping facilities and Bone Valley ATV Park Saturday at noon. Camping facilities include: Saddle Creek, Lake Rosalie, Lake Arbuckle, Port Hatchineha and Coleman Landing.
 
The Saddle Creek Gun Range is closed Saturday, and will resume its normal hours of operation on Monday.
 
Circle B Bar Reserve remains closed for the weekend. The Nature Discovery Center at Circle B will open Tuesday, Oct. 11, resuming its normal schedule and programs.
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Polk County performing damage assessments

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Polk County performing damage assessments
Polk County performing damage assessments
 
Bartow, Fla. (October 7, 2016) —  Polk County was very fortunate in that Hurricane Matthew moved more easterly as it traveled north along Florida’s east coast. County staff is doing damage assessments across the county and collecting damage reports from residents.
 
If you had storm damage to your property, please call the Citizens Information Line at (863) 401-2234 (locally) or toll-free 1-866-661-0228 during this time.
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“Clean It Up to Green It Up” Program scheduled for Wabash and South Galloway Communities – Cancelled and Rescheduled for 10/29/16

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“Clean It Up to Green It Up” Program scheduled for Wabash and South Galloway Communities – Cancelled and Rescheduled for 10/29/16

 “Clean It Up to Green It Up” Program scheduled for Wabash and South Galloway Communities – Cancelled and Rescheduled for 10/29/16

 polk

Due to unforeseen circumstances and severe weather Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc.is cancelling this Saturday’s Wabash and South Galloway Cleanup and Tire Recycling Event.  The Event has been rescheduled for Saturday, October 29, 2016.  Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.

 

For more information, contact Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. at (863) 875-8911.

Suspect Took His Own Life In Lieu of Going Back to Jail

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Suspect Took His Own Life In Lieu of Going Back to Jail

 

carter

LAKELAND, FL – On October 5, 2016 at approximately 10:40 p.m., Officer Derek Gulledge observed a vehicle in the area of Ingram Avenue and S. Road 98, that had cut him off in traffic causing him to hit his brakes. Officer Gulledge then ran the tag of the vehicle and it came back listed as a 2015 Nissan Altima, 4-door stolen out of Winter Haven on August 19, 2016.

 

Officer Gulledge followed the stolen vehicle waiting for additional police units to assist and he did not use his emergency lights at this time as not to alert the driver. At Kathleen Road and 10th Street, officers attempted to block the stolen vehicle in to prevent a pursuit. The driver was able to maneuver his vehicle around the police cars and avoid being blocked in. The suspect accelerated fleeing to the Lakewood Terrace Apartments, 1315 West 14th Street.

The driver entered the main entrance in the middle of the complex and tried to stop the vehicle and it slid into a tree. The suspect then jumped out and fled on foot. Officers observed two additional passengers in the vehicle and they were taken into custody without incident for questioning. The driver was observed by another officer running into the breezeway of an apartment building. Additional officers on the perimeter were confident the suspect was in one of four apartments.  Further investigation by the officers revealed that one of the passengers, Larexia Honors lived in apartment #D-14 on the second floor in the same area that the suspect was believed to be hiding. The other three nearby apartments were checked and cleared by the officers. Honors gave the officers a verbal and written consent to check her apartment for the suspect.

Officers knocked on the door and no one responded. Police K-9 responded to assist and officers unlocked the door at which time two verbal warnings for the suspect to surrender were given. After no response was heard, the K-9 was released into the apartment and officers immediately heard a gunshot. Officers entered the apartment and located the suspect in a bedroom with a single gunshot to his forehead, and the handgun lying underneath him. The handgun is a KEL-Tec, PF-9, and it was loaded with six additional rounds. The suspect was transported to Lakeland Regional Health in grave condition.

Detectives responded to the scene and the two passengers were interviewed. Both passengers said they had been picked up earlier by the suspect in Lakeland. The mother of the suspect was also interviewed and she stated that during this time frame, the suspect called her and stated, “I’m not going back to jail, I’m going to kill myself” and then he hung up.

The suspect has been identified as Dayoshis Carter, 19 years of age, 407 Lee Street, Auburndale, Fl. He has a total of 13 arrest some of which include:

  • Simple Battery
  • Resisting an Officer
  • Theft
  • Disorderly Conduct
  • Possession of Marijuana
  • Trespassing
  • Aggravated Assault with a Weapon
  • Homicide
  • Weapon Offense
  • Fleeing to Elude an Officer

 

No officers fired shots or were injured during this incident and it’s very unfortunate that Carter decided to shoot himself instead of turning himself in. This investigation is still ongoing and for additional information of the stolen vehicle, please contact the Winter Haven Police Department.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Searching For Hit & Run Driver That Killed Woman In Lakeland 

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Polk County Sheriff’s Office Searching For Hit & Run Driver That Killed Woman In Lakeland 

Lakeland, Florida – The PCSO Traffic Unit is investigating a pedestrian (adult) struck by a vehicle in the area of Duff Road and Eastview Place, in front of Huntington Golf Course, in north Lakeland.

The roadways in that area are shut down until further notice.

 The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating the suspect vehicle, which is described as a 2004-2008 Ford F-150, dark in color, missing the cover to the passenger side mirror, and should have front end damage on the passenger side.

The suspect truck was last seen heading eastbound on Duff Road, towards US Hwy 98.

The pedestrian, an adult female, was struck around 6:30 a.m. and is deceased.
If anyone has information about this crash they are urged to contact PCSO at 863-298-6200.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IS ASKED TO CALL
1-800-226-TIPS or LOG ONTO www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com. ANONYMITY IS GUARANTEED! iPhone and Droid users can download a free tip submit app to anonymously report crime. To install these free apps, please visit www.tipsoft.com.

We will update as more information is available. 

Polk State College Amends Schedule Due To Hurricane 

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Polk State College Amends Schedule Due To Hurricane 

​Due to the potential impact of Hurricane Matthew, Polk State College will close at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, and will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 10.

All classes and activities will be cancelled during these times.

Any updates will be issued via institutional email accounts, polk.edu, and social media. Students are encouraged to refer to Polk County Emergency Management for information on preparing for severe weather.

Hurricane Matthew Update for Polk County

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Hurricane Matthew Update for Polk County
BARTOW, Fla.  – The National Weather Service has upgraded Polk County’s storm status to tropical storm warning.
Hurricane Matthew’s impact will begin to be felt early afternoon on Thursday, Oct. 6, with the heaviest winds beginning in the evening. Polk will experience tropical force winds of 40-50 miles an hour with gusts of up to 75 mph. This should continue throughout the night and all day Friday. Residents in low-lying areas should make plans now to protect property from potential flood damage as already saturated areas may see heavier-than-normal rainfall with possible local flooding. One to three inches of rain is expected.
Polk County School Board has announced that schools will be closed all day Thursday and Friday. As of today, Polk County government offices will remain open.
Polk County Emergency Management urges residents to activate their own hurricane preparation plans. Residents should also make sure they have adequate supplies of necessary medications and that they have an evacuation and/or sheltering plan for both their family and pets should it become necessary.
Polk County Emergency Management has activated the Emergency Operations Center at a level two, begun preliminary emergency initiatives and will continue actively monitoring Hurricane Matthew until it no longer presents any threat to Polk County.
For the most updated information, please continue to monitor your local news media or call the Citizen’s Information Line at 863-401-2234 (locally) or toll-free 1-866-661-0228. Information is also available on PGTV (Bright House 644, Comcast 5 or Verizon 20), or check the county website for updates www.polk-county.net. You may also obtain further emergency information atwww.facebook.com/polkcountyem and www.twitter.com/polkemergency.
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