Polk County Sheriff’s Office is Investigating What Appears to Be a Murder-Suicide

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Polk County Sheriff’s Office is Investigating What Appears to Be a Murder-Suicide

deathinvest

PCSO is conducting a death investigation from overnight that appears to be a murder-suicide. Two people are deceased, and another victim who was shot was transported to a hospital. Preliminary information is as follows:

Around 12:30 a.m. this morning, Friday, April 1, 2016, PCSO responded to 627 Koala Court in Poinciana in reference to a shooting. The victim who called, 22-year-old Steevenson Joseph of Orlando, told deputies that he and his girlfriend, 20-year-old Melgan Francois of Koala Court, were both shot by Francois’ ex-boyfriend, 28-year-old Calindry Jean of Margate, while both victims were in their vehicle parked at the aforementioned address (Francois’ home). Deputies located Jean laying on the ground outside the vehicle with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Francois and Jean were both trauma-alerted to area hospitals with critical injuries, and both succumbed and were pronounced deceased. Joseph was transported to the hospital with serious injuries – he is expected to recover. No other injuries occurred, and deputies do not believe at this time that any other parties are involved. The investigation is ongoing. Both deceased victims have been transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office, where autopsies will be conducted to determine causes of death.

Lane Closures on Rifle Range Road for Bridge Repairs

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Lane Closures on Rifle Range Road for Bridge Repairs
Lane Closures on Rifle Range Road for Bridge Repairs
 laneclosure
Bartow, Fla. (April 1, 2016) — Starting Monday morning, Polk County will complete repairs to the topside deck of the Rifle Range Road Bridge (#160094) that crosses Peace Creek about .6 miles north of State Road 60 in Wahneta.  This three day long project will require about three hours of lane closures daily for each travel lane of the two-lane span. Closures are needed for worker protection and public safety.
 
Backups are expected. Through-traffic and residents living along the adjoining Rifle Range Road frontage can expect driving delays due to stopped traffic. Access to Robin Drive at the Peace River Oaks subdivision and driveways close to the bridge may be briefly limited. Motorists are urged to use caution and add extra time to their trips through area.
 
Contact Bill Skelton with the Polk County Roads & Drainage Division at 863-535-2200 for further details.

Fun Friday – All American Water Ski Tournament April 2nd and 3rd

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Fun Friday – All American Water Ski Tournament April 2nd and 3rd

All American Water Ski Tournament

Apr 2, 2016 – Apr 3, 2016
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team will host the 4th Annual All American Water Ski Tournament. Free entries for all spectators. Pre-registration and fee is recommended for all participants. Water skiers from all over the country have come to participate. See the grace of ballet and doubles acts, to the excitement of men’s jumping and barefoot skiing. Concessions will be available.

Bring your blanket or lawn chair for seating.

You may also be interested in the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team monthly ski show at Lake Silver in Winter Haven.

Steven Dale Lindsey WANTED on a Warrant for Burglary and Grand Theft

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Steven Dale Lindsey WANTED on a Warrant for Burglary and Grand Theft

‎lindsey

PCSO Warrant Of The Day‬ is 26 yr old Steven Dale Lindsey, believed to be in the north Lakeland area. He has a Polk County warrant for his arrest for Burglary and Grand Theft. He was just released from the Polk County Jail on March 25th. He has an extensive criminal history in property crimes. He’s known to frequent north Lakeland and Polk City.

If you know where Steven Lindsey is, please contact PCSO at 863-577-1600. 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 MUGSHOT OF THE DAY – APRIL 1, 2016

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POLK MUGSHOT OF THE DAY – APRIL 1, 2016

ARTHUR NELSON

nelson

Race: W Sex: M DOB: 6/1/1996 Height: 509 Weight: 140

Charge Number 2

Statute: 800.04(4)(A). Lewd Battery
Charge on Arrest Docket: Lewd Battery
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Charge Number 4

Statute: 934.215 Use 2-Way Communic.Device to Commit Felony
Charge on Arrest Docket: USE 2-WAY COMM.DEVICE TO COMMIT FEL
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Charge Number 5

Statute: 893.13(6)(B) CANNABIS POSSESS Not More Than 20 grams
Charge on Arrest Docket: CANNABIS POSSESS Not More Than 20 gr
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Charge Number 6

Statute: 847.0135(4)(A) Travel to Meet After Use Comput To Lure Ch
Charge on Arrest Docket: TRAVEL/MEET AFTR USE COMP TO LUR CLD
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Charge Number 7

Statute: 847.0135(3)(A) Use Computer to Seduce Solicit Lure Child
Charge on Arrest Docket: USE COMP TO SEDUCE SOLICT LURE CHILD
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Charge Number 8

Statute: 847.0138 Transmit Material Harmful Minor
Charge on Arrest Docket: Transmit Material Harmful Minor
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Charge Number 9

Statute: 893.147(1) Poss./Use Narcotic Paraphernalia
Charge on Arrest Docket: Poss./Use Narcotic Paraphernalia
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Polk County Sheriff’s Office Seeking Information on Two Robbery Suspects

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Polk County Sheriff’s Office Seeking Information on Two Robbery Suspects
PCSO Robbery Detectives Seeking Information On Two Robbery Suspects
On Wednesday, March 30, 2016, Polk County Sheriff’s Office Robbery detectives arrested 18-year-old Trey Deshawn Hobdy, 2880 Dudley Drive, Bartow, charging him with Armed Burglary, 2 counts of Grand Theft, 3 counts of Grand Theft with Firearm, 2 counts of Petit Theft, 4 counts of Burglary, Tampering with Evidence and Possession of Cannabis less than 20 grams.
 
Also arrested was 19-year-old Traquavios McKenzie, 2865 Dudley Drive, Bartow.  McKenzie is charged with 2 counts Armed Robbery with Firearm, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Armed Burglary, 2 counts Grand Theft, 3 counts of Grand Theft of Firearm, 2 counts of Petit Theft, 4 counts of Burglary, and Tampering with Evidence.
 
Both are being held on no bond.
 
Two additional suspects are being sought.  Those suspects are:
 
17-year-old Mitchel O’Neal, 2952 Morris Drive, Bartow
18-year-old Jaccarion Gray, 2964 Warfield Drive, Bartow
 
Both O’Neal and Gray have active warrants for Armed Robbery and Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery.
 
Through their investigation, PCSO Robbery detectives learned that at approximately 12:30 am, on Monday, March 28, 2016, Hobdy and McKenzie stole a white work van from Lake Alfred.  The suspects then traveled to the Bartow area where between 1:30 am and 3:20 am, the suspects burglarized five vehicles in one neighborhood; one vehicle was an unmarked PCSO vehicle.  The next day, McKenzie, Gray and O’Neal using a firearm stolen from the vehicle burglaries, committed one Robbery and attempt a second.
 
During the burglary to the PCSO vehicle, Hobdy and McKenzie pried open the lock box inside and removed an agency vest, two agency issued firearms (Glock handgun and Remington shotgun), a personal AR15, and other miscellaneous items.
 
At approximately 1:45 am on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, McKenzie, Gray, and O’Neal attempted an armed robbery in Winter Haven Police Departments jurisdiction, in which the victims fled from the suspects.  One of the suspect, using the stolen shotgun, fired into the victims’ vehicle.  There were no reported injuries.  The suspects were seen in the stolen van during this incident.
 
At approximately 1:59 am, on Tuesday, McKenzie, Gray, and O’Neal committed an armed robbery at a residence on the 4300 block of Scott Drive.  The victims cooperated giving up their personal property.  The suspects were again seen in the stolen van during this incident.
 
At approximately 2:21 am on Tuesday, a PCSO supervisor observed the stolen van which seemed to be following a light blue Pontiac.  The supervisor attempted to pursue the van as the Pontiac traveled in a different direction.  The suspect inside the van fled on foot in the area 2901 Dudley Drive and the stolen van was recovered.  It is believed the other three suspects were in the Pontiac.
 
At 3:30 am, on March 28, 2016, McKenzie and Hobdy were seen entering the Circle K located at 4980 Spirit Lake Road, less than three miles from the area of the burglary neighborhood.  The suspects threw personal items belonging to the victims into the store’s dumpster which was later discovered by two citizens.
 
Detectives were able to positively identify McKenzie, who had an active Polk County warrant for Armed Robbery, and Hobdy from store video.
 
On March 29 2016, Hobdy was located at his residence where several of the stolen items were located.  McKenzie was located walking along the street nearby. Both were transported to the Polk County jail.
 
McKenzie confessed to both robberies.  Detectives learned Hobdy was not involved in the robberies committed on March 29, however, he did confess to a robbery of a Papa John’s Pizza in November of 2015 in Winter Haven’s jurisdiction. 
 
Detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating O’Neal and Gray.  Anyone with information in their whereabouts is urged to contact the 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 visitwww.tipsoft.com.
 
Both O’Neal and Gray have extensive criminal arrest histories.
 
O’Neal’s criminal arrest history includes the following:
 
11/7/11            LPD     Larceny grand theft
11/25/11          PCSO Burglary unoccupied, larceny, grand theft
1/3/14              PCSO Failure to appear warrant
6/29/14            PCSO Burglary occupied, unarmed 
 
Gray’s criminal arrest history includes the following:                                              
 
4/13/10            BPD    Petit theft
12/28/10          PCSO Assault on Leo/fire/emt, trespassing, obstruction
3/4/11              PCSO Burglary, larceny grand theft, larceny grand theft firearm, VOP
5/2/11              PCSO Corrupt public official
6/5/11              PCSO Marijuana
10/1/12            PCSO Burglar, larceny grand theft, trespassing, larceny petit theft, VOP
9/6/13              WHPD VOP
2/10/14            PCSO Obstruction, VOP
3/20/14            PCSO VOP
4/8/14              PCSO VOP
5/8/14              PCSO Larceny grand theft of firearm, petit theft, marijuana, para, VOP
9/18/14            BPD    Trespass school grounds, VOP
6/5/15              PCSO Marijuana, paraphernalia, VOP
 
The investigation is ongoing.  
Gray
WANTED
O’Neal

WANTED
McKenzie – In Custody
Hobdy – In Custody

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Mississippi Man Sexual Battery on a Minor

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Polk County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Mississippi Man Sexual Battery on a Minor
PCSO Detectives Arrest Mississippi Man for Sexual Battery on a Minor
On Wednesday, March 30, 2016, PCSO Special Victims detectives arrested 23-year-old Lloyd Schallenberger of Richland, Mississippi, and charged him with one count Sexual Battery on a Minor, after a 9-year-old Polk County boy with whom the suspect had contact when he lived in east Polk County reported Schallenberger had inappropriately touched him. 
 
According to the affidavit, PCSO was contacted by a local family in reference to the victim recently disclosing the behavior, which occurred between July 2014 and February 2015, when Schallenberger lived here and had access to the child. The victim told detectives that the suspect touched him inappropriately on several occasions, while the victim was in bed with the suspect.
 
Detectives interviewed the boy’s family members, who told them that the suspect told them he was a youth counselor at his church in Mississippi. In February 2015, an adult in the home witnessed the child going into and out of Schallenberger’s bedroom and didn’t think it was right, so he told Schallenberger to leave. Schallenberger then moved back to Mississippi. 
 
PCSO detectives traveled to Mississippi to interview the suspect and his known associates. Detectives spoke with First Baptist Church of Richland (MS) employees, the church where Schallenberger told the Polk County family he was a “youth counselor.” Church employees told PCSO detectives that Schallenberger was most recently employed in the sound booth at the church, but had volunteered with the youth program in the past and helped teach Sunday school. During that time, a parent complained that Schallenberger was texting her son late at night about subjects she felt were inappropriate. 
 
Recently, the church received a call from the Polk County adult who told Schallenberger to move out, asking if he worked at the church as a youth counselor. The pastor told the man that Schallenberger had volunteered to work with the youth in the past. The man told the pastor he believed Schallenberger had inappropriate contact with a 9-year-old boy, which was why he called. Shortly after the phone call, when Schallenberger came to church, the pastor told him it would be better if he did not volunteer with the youth ministry (based on the phone call from Florida). Schallenberger did not return to the church after that conversation.
 
PCSO detectives, along with Richland Police Department officers, located and interviewed Schallenberger, who initially and repeatedly denied sexually battering the victim. He told detectives they had conversations that were sexual in nature, prompted by questions asked by the 9-year-old, and that the boy did sleep in the bed with him. He agreed to submit to a polygraph, during which he showed indications of deceit specifically when asked about the sexual battery. When he was interviewed again, Schallenberger admitted to touching the boy but said it was accidental. PCSO detectives served a warrant for his arrest for one count Sexual Battery on a Minor (F-C) and he was booked into the Rankin County Jail, where he will await extradition to Polk County.
schallenberger
Lloyd Schallenberger

Lake Wales City Elections On Tuesday April 5, 2016 – Sample Ballot

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Lake Wales City Elections On Tuesday April 5, 2016 – Sample Ballot

The Lake Wales City Elections will take place on Tuesday April 5, 2016. The election is being held at Lake Wales Municipal Administration Building, 201 W Central Avenue, Lake Wales, Florida 33859.

Lake Wales has 8,848 registered voters. They are listed as 3,844 Democrat, 2,986 Republican, 1,764 No Party Affiliation and 254 other parties. 5,462 White, 2,147 Black, 806 Hispanic & 433 Other. 3,716 male, 4,930 female and 202 unknown!

Here is a sample ballot!

LW Sample Ballot

Wacky Wednesday – Unicorns Were Real and a New Fossil Shows When They Lived

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Wacky Wednesday – Unicorns Were Real and a New Fossil Shows When They Lived

Unicorns Were Real, and a New Fossil Shows When They Lived

The well-preserved skull probably won’t tell us whether their blood had magical properties, though.

 The unicorn isn’t just a myth – but it didn’t look like this.
unicorn

Dreams do come true – sort of.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Applied Sciences, the Siberian unicorn – Elasmotherium sibiricum – last walked the Earth about 29,000 years ago.

Scientists previously thought the creature with the partially mythical name died out about 350,000 years ago, but a newly discovered fossilized skull reveals it lived here much more recently.

The skull was found in the Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan, and scientists hope it will help shed light on how some members of the species apparently were able to survive as long as they did.

Before you get too excited, though, here’s the catch: The Siberian unicorn really looked like more of a rhinoceros than a horse. It reportedly stood about 6 feet 6 inches tall, measured around 15 feet long, and weighed about 8,000 pounds.

As Science Alert explains, “That’s closer to woolly mammoth-sized than horse-sized.”

ancient unicorn

Carmine “Charlie” Stango April 19, 1920 – March 26, 2016

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Carmine “Charlie” Stango April 19, 1920 – March 26, 2016
Carmine Stango
Carmine Stango

LAKE WALES – Carmine ‘Charlie’ Stango of Lake Wales, Florida died peacefully on March 26, 2016 after struggling with dementia and heart disease for quite some time. He was 95 years old. He was born at home in Brooklyn, New York on April 19, 1920 to the late Rocco Stanco and Teresa Vito Stanco.

From April, 1942 to November, 1945, Carmine served his country during WWII and the Korean Wars as a Sergeant in the US Army Air Corps. He specialized as an Airplane Engine Mechanic. While performing service in Avon Park, FL, he met his future bride of 70 years, Barbara Ann Sims of Lake Wales.

Carmine retired from Florida Power Corporation as a truck mechanic and was an active member of the First United Methodist Church for many years, After retirement from Florida Power in 1982, he worked performing many duties for Johnson Funeral Home, volunteered his time with the ‘Piddlers’ benefiting people in need of home repairs, and was a member of LWPD’s V.O.I.C.E. (Volunteer Observers Impacting Community Effort). For quite a few years he was a member of the Lake of the Hills Club, volunteering countless hours of his time, which included serving at their annual chicken dinner and ice cream socials. Also, during retirement, he found great fulfillment serving his Lord and Savor, Jesus Christ by doing prison ministry. Finally, Carmine ‘Charlie’ was passionate about building and crafting birdhouses and lawn art, which was a big hit to many in the Lake Wales community and beyond.

Carmine is survived by his wife, Barbara Sims Stango (93), his four children: Shirley Stango Jolly and husband, George ‘Butch’ of Ft. Meade, FL, Charles Richard Stango of Long Beach, CA, Edith Stango and husband, Barry Tetreault of North Miami Beach, FL and Asheville, NC, and Holly Stango Thornhill and husband, Jonathan of Lake Wales, FL, seven grandchildren: Angie Jolly Hall of Lake Wales, Barbi Jolly Goodin of Somerset, KY, Sherry Stango of Chico, CA, Ricky Stango of Talcoma, WA, Amber Thornhill Pierson of Winter Haven, FL, Ashley Thornhill Russell of Gainesville, Fl and Rebecca Thornhill of Lake Wales, 14 great grandchildren and seven great great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Carmine was preceded in death by four sisters.

Carmine was remembered by a private family memorial gathering.

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