Couple Arrested In Auburndale Methamphetamine Bust

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Couple Arrested In Auburndale Methamphetamine Bust

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Auburndale, Florida – On 09/14/2016, detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office executed a lawful search warrant at 223 Whispering Pines Drive, Auburndale. Information obtained from the investigation leading up to the execution of the search warrant indicated Peggy Howard & Donald Howard were allegedly utilizing the residence to sell illegal narcotics, specifically, methamphetamine.
Upon arrival at the residence, deputies made contact with the Howards and showed them the search warrant and read them their Miranda rights.
While searching the residence, a safe was located in a small room on the left side of the hallway. Peggy Howard was in possession of a key that was suppose to open the safe. It would not open for deputies and they asked Howard if she would open it for them. While walking to the safe the deputy asked Howard if any guns were in the safe and Howard advised yes. When deputies asked if any drugs were in the safe Howard stated “I want a lawyer”. The safe would not open for Howard either and it was forced open. Upon opening the safe, three handguns were located directly next to a large amount of currency and a large amount of a crystallized substance recognized as methamphetamine. The suspected methamphetamine was tested with a field drug test kit #15. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine. Also located in the safe was a clear plastic baggie containing a green leafy substance. This substance was tested with a field drug test kit #8. This substance tested positive for cannabis. Also located in the safe was an envelope of currency with the name “Peggy” written on the envelope.
While continuing to search the residence, an improvised explosive device was located in the master bedroom. This item appeared to be a shotgun shell with a fuse and CO2 cartridge attached to it. Based on the fact this explosive item was located, a bomb squad was requested to be enroute.

The total amount of currency located in the safe was $26,460.00. The total weight of methamphetamine located in the safe was 631.9 grams (approximately 1.5 pounds).  Based on the above information, the Howards were arrested and transported to Polk County Jail without incident.

Another suspect, 33 year old Michael Hill of Auburndale, was also arrested for possession of methamphetamine & drug paraphernalia.

FHP Working Fatal Crash On County Line Rd.

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FHP Working Fatal Crash On County Line Rd.

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Lakeland, Florida – According to multiple sources the Florida Highway Patrol is working a fatal crash on County Line Rd. and Ewell Rd. in Lakeland. The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting that the accident took place at 2:28pm on September 15, 2016 and is currently blocking all southbound lanes of County Line Rd.

We will update this article as soon as more information is available.

Star Coffee Coming To Eagle Ridge Mall Selling Barnie’s Coffee Products

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Star Coffee Coming To Eagle Ridge Mall Selling Barnie’s Coffee Products

 

Lake Wales, Florida – As most of you know from our article back in May the Starbucks has moved from the Eagle Ridge Mall. While this was very disappointing news, it was very typical of the marketing efforts of Starbucks. They are opting to go with more drive-thru locations.

The Eagle Ridge Mall has a new tenant to take over the location vacated by Starbucks and that is Star Coffee selling Barnie’s Coffee products. The franchisee has signed a 6 year lease and is targeting the first week in October to open. The location will serve a large selection of the Barnie’s items including cheesecake, muffins, brownies & of course coffee!

*Editors Note: We originally reported that this was a Barnie’s Coffee & Tea franchise in error. Barnie’s currently doesn’t have anymore franchises. They currently have the products, but no longer sell them under the same franchise agreement. We apologize for the miscommunication. 

Dashawn Jamal-Roy Bather is In Custody After Turning Himself In at the Tampa Police Department

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Dashawn Jamal-Roy Bather is In Custody After Turning Himself In at the Tampa Police Department

** ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE SUSPECT UPDATE **

 

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Dashawn Jamal-Roy Bather is in custody after turning himself in at the Tampa Police Department today.
Bather, who had a warrant for his arrest, is facing charges of Attempted First Degree Homicide stemming from an encounter in Winter Haven on Wednesday, 9-14-16.
It is unclear when Bather will be transported back to Polk County.
Thank you for all of the media who got the information out about this case.
The original release is below.

ORIGINAL RELEASE

Winter Haven Police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of Dashawn Jamal-Roy Bather of Lakeland after he shot a Winter Haven man on Wednesday.
On 9-14-16 at approximately 2:12 p.m., officers responded to 901 Ave. W, NW where 20 year-old Nathaniel Brewer (DOB 9-22-16) was suffering from a gunshot wound to his neck. Brewer was taken to Lakeland Regional Health with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to witnesses, Brewer was driving south in the 2000 block of 9th St NW in Winter Haven while a gray 2005 BMW driven by 19 year-old Dashawn Jamal-Roy Bather (DOB 4-5-97, 1839 Kinsman Way, Lakeland) was driving north on the same street. Both cars stopped and Brewer got out of the driver’s side and approached Bather’s vehicle. A verbal exchange ensued and Bather pulled a gun out and fired a shot hitting Brewer in the neck.
Bather sped off towards Havendale Blvd. and then drove west on Havendale towards Lakeland.
A friend with Brewer immediately called 9-1-1, put him back in the car and drove back to Brewer’s residence at 901 Ave. W, NW where police and medical personnel responded. Brewer was transported by ambulance to Lakeland Regional Health.
Officers were able to make a positive identification of the shooter and obtained a warrant for his arrest after attempts to locate him were unsuccessful.
Nineteen year-old Dashawn Jamal-Roy Bather is considered armed and extremely dangerous. He is possibly driving his 2005 gray BMW four-door car with a Florida tag of 2759BT.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Bather is asked to call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers WILL remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH reward of up to $3,000.

Man Charged With 1st Degree Attempted Murder After Stabbing Good Samaritan

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Man Charged With 1st Degree Attempted Murder After Stabbing Good Samaritan

Lakeland, Florida – On the night of September 3, 2016 Chad Brown was driving in the area of Parker Street E. & Massachusetts Ave. when you noticed an elderly black male being beaten. Brown thinking the man was being robbed stopped his car and approached the assailant and the elderly man.  As Brown approached the assailant, later identified as 45 yr. old Charles “Black” Miller,  turned his attention to Brown. The elderly man was able to escape.  Miller and Brown started into a verbal argument and pushing ensued between the two men. During the altercation Brown was struck in the neck by Miller. Initially Brown thought he was just punched, but then noticed blood spurting from a wound in his neck. Brown turned and tried to leave the area, but according to witnesses Miller switched a knife from his right hand to his left and stabbed Brown again in the neck from behind. Witnesses reported that Miller said “How does it feel to know you are about to die”? Miller fled the scene and the victim was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.

Witnesses identified Miller as the attacker and a warrant was served on September 9, 2016 and he was arrested.

Miller was also charged with not registering as a career criminal. Miller is being held without bond. He has been arrested over 9 times in Polk County in the last 7 years.

Mr. Brown has been released from the hospital and is recovering from his injuries.

Winter Haven Police Investigating Shooting

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Winter Haven Police Investigating Shooting

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Winter Haven, Florida – Winter Haven Police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of Dashawn Jamal-Roy Bather of Lakeland after he shot a Winter Haven man on Wednesday.

On 9-14-16 at approximately 2:12 p.m., officers responded to 901 Ave. W, NW where 20 year-old Nathaniel Brewer (DOB 9-22-96) was suffering from a gunshot wound to his neck. Brewer was taken to Lakeland Regional Health with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to witnesses, Brewer was driving south in the 2000 block of 9th St NW in Winter Haven while a gray 2005 BMW driven by 19 year-old Dashawn Jamal-Roy Bather (DOB 4-5-97, 1839 Kinsman Way, Lakeland) was driving north on the same street. Both cars stopped and Brewer got out of the driver’s side and approached Bather’s vehicle. A verbal exchange ensued and Bather pulled a gun out and fired a shot hitting Brewer in the neck.
Bather sped off towards Havendale Blvd. and then drove west on Havendale towards Lakeland.
A friend with Brewer immediately called 9-1-1, put him back in the car and drove back to Brewer’s residence at 901 Ave. W, NW where police and medical personnel responded. Brewer was transported by ambulance to Lakeland Regional Health.
Officers were able to make a positive identification of the shooter and obtained a warrant for his arrest after attempts to locate him were unsuccessful.
Nineteen year-old Dashawn Jamal-Roy Bather is considered armed and extremely dangerous. He is possibly driving his 2005 gray BMW four-door car with a Florida tag of 2759BT.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Bather is asked to call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers WILL remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH reward of up to $3,000.

Girlfriend Calls In Bomb Threat to Keep Boyfriend from Having to Submit Urinalysis

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Girlfriend Calls In Bomb Threat to Keep Boyfriend from Having to Submit Urinalysis

Girlfriend of probationer calls in a bomb threat to the Office of Probation and Parole in Winter Haven in an attempt to keep her boyfriend from submitting to a urinalysis.

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A Lake Wales woman is facing felony charges after she called in a report that a bomb was at the Probation and Parole building in Winter Haven – all in an attempt to keep her boyfriend from having to submit to a urinalysis.
On 9-13-16 at approximately 2:42 p.m., a caller dialed 9-1-1 stating there was a man in front of the Probation and Parole building located at 1289 1st St. South in Winter Haven and was going to blow the building up. The call then disconnected when the dispatcher questioned the caller. Attempts to call the number back were met with negative results.
Officers immediately started the process of finding the origin of the call. It was determined that the cell phone number belonged to 31 year-old Deniz Martinez (DOB 9-3-85, 9205 Carillon Place, Lake Wales). Upon further investigation, detectives learned that Martinez transported her boyfriend, 38 year-old Jason Drake (DOB 1-30-78, 9205 Carillon Place, Lake Wales) to the probation office at 8:30 a.m. for a scheduled urinalysis. Drake was unable to provide the urine sample, therefore he had to stay in the building until he could provide a sufficient sample. Six hours later was when the 9-1-1 call was made. Officers determined the call to 9-1-1 was a hoax and stayed with Drake while additional resources were utilized to locate Martinez.
Shortly after, Martinez was located at her apartment in Lake Wales and she admitted that she called in the bomb threat so her boyfriend would get out of his urinalysis.  She was charged with one count of Filing A False Report Concerning Planting a Bomb (F2). Drake ultimately was arrested for Violation of Probation since he didn’t produce the required urinalysis. The investigation into Drake’s role in the bomb threat is ongoing and possible charges could be filed in the future.

LAKE WALES NOON ROTARY PLANS QUIVERING QUADS

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LAKE WALES NOON ROTARY PLANS QUIVERING QUADS

LAKE WALES NOON ROTARY PLANS QUIVERING QUADS

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Lake Wales, FL – The Rotary Club of Lake Wales has announced its 2016 Quivering Quads, a series of 4 races in 24 hours, and this year they’ve added more perks for participants.

 

“This is our second year of putting on this race event,” said race coordinator Maryemma Bachelder. “Last year, the weather didn’t cooperate, so we changed our date this year to early November to avoid late summer thunderstorms, and to take advantage of slightly cooler temperatures.”

 

The Quivering Quads race gives runners – and walkers – a chance to complete four races in 24 hours.

 

Quivering Quads will be held Nov. 4-5.  It starts Friday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. with a 5K race, starting and ending at the lake across from Kiwanis Park. The second and third races will be held on Saturday morning, Nov. 5, starting with a one-mile sprint at 7 a.m. on the trail behind Kiwanis Park, followed by a 2-mile run along the trail around the lake (starting and ending near the gazebo), at 8:15 a.m. The final race Saturday at 5:30 p.m. will be the same 5K as Friday night. Sweet Ella’s Produce of Lake Wales, one of the race sponsors, is providing fresh fruit for runners at all the races.

 

“This event is great for runners and walkers of all skills levels and speeds,” Bachelder said. “We encourage people to register for all four, but they certainly can sign up for fewer if they prefer.”

 

New to this year’s event, all participants who complete all four races will receive a finisher’s medal, in addition to their event T-shirt.

 

Following the final 5K on Saturday night, participants are invited to enjoy pizza and refreshments at Kiwanis Park, and awards will be announced. Awards will be given in 10-year age divisions, plus Overall Male and Overall Female.

 

The fee for all four races is $60 in advance, $75 the weekend of the event. Individual races are $20 each, or $25 the weekend of the event. Only those who participate in all 4 races are eligible for prizes and finisher’s medals.

 

To register, visit www.LWRotaryClub.com.

Armed Home Invasion In Lake Hamilton Being Investigated

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Armed Home Invasion In Lake Hamilton Being Investigated

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Lake Hamilton, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an Armed Home invasion investigation.

At approximately 5:50 am on Saturday, September 10, 2016, two unknown males entered a residence on Monroe Lane in Lake Hamilton. Once inside, the suspects demanded personal property from the victim.

After obtaining the victim’s property, the suspects fled in an unknown direction. The suspects were described as being black males both armed with handguns.

Anyone with information about this investigation is urged to contact Detective K. Brannon at 863-298-6925 or 863-298-6200.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IS ASKED TO CALL HEARTLAND CRIME STOPPERS AT 1-800-226-TIPS or LOG ONTO www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com. ANONYMITY IS GUARANTEED! iPhone users can download a free tip submit app to anonymously report crime. To install this free app, search for “TipSoft” or “TipSubmit” on the Apple App Store.

Polk Man Arrested After Allegedly Punching & Strangling His Girlfriend

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Polk Man Arrested After Allegedly Punching & Strangling His Girlfriend

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*Editors Note: Domestic Battery appears to be one of the most frequent arrests every day in Polk County. Between 8-10 people are arrested everyday and often that number is more. The Daily Ridge is not trying to report on every domestic battery case, however those that appear to be excessive will be reported on. We also are not alleging guilt or innocence in any article. Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty. 

Lakeland, Florida – According to Polk County Sheriff’s Office reports an incident occurred between Jeffery M. Drew and his girlfriend September 4, 2016.  The couple has been together for two years and have two children together.  On 9/4/2016 at 3:ooam Drew allegedly jumped on his girlfriend while she was sleeping in bed at the couples residence on Ellis Ave. in Lakeland. He allegedly head butted her while doing this and ordered her out to the living room. According to reports Drew was upset that the victim didn’t answer the cell phone. At this time according to reports Drew proceeded to punch the victim in the head 40-50 times. He allegedly also grabbed a kitchen knife and held it to the victims neck saying “I want to kill you”. At one point Drew also put the knife to his own neck and saying he wanted to kill himself according to the arrest affidavit. The victim tried to escape out the front door, but Drew blocked it punched her in the head again, stopping her from leaving. He allegedly told the victim to get into the bedroom. Approximately 5 minutes later Drew told the victim to come out of the bedroom and at this time the door was barricaded with a couch.   At this time he allegedly strangled the victim twice to the point of losing consciousness. While this was being done the children were present during the incident. The victim contacted someone who called law enforcement. Deputies at the scene could see bruising on victims face, ear and ring finger. 

On September 9, 2016 a warrant was served to Drew and he was arrested and taken into custody. Drew was charged with Armed False Imprisonment, Aggravated Assault With Deadly Weapon Without Intent To Kill, Domestic Felony Battery & Domestic Violence Battery By Strangulation. Total bond was $28,000 and has a hearing date 10/11/16.  

Drew has a past conviction of Battery with Bodily Harm on 9/18/2009 and is a registered felon. He has also been arrested multiple times for DUI and Battery .

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