Polk deputies arrested 35-year-old Wilmer Henriquez of Polk County after he had a physical altercation with a female victim. He was charged with domestic violence battery, a first degree misdemeanor. Mr. Henriquez is a Sergeant at Lake Correctional Institution, a Florida Department of Corrections facility in Clermont, Florida.
Deputies responded to a home in Northeast Polk County Monday evening, September 11, 2023, where a woman said Wilmer Henriquez grabbed her arm during an argument about messages she did not like on Henriquez’ cell phone. Both involved in the argument acknowledged that Mr. Henriquez grabbed the victim by the arm during the argument. The victim stated she experienced pain during the altercation and that the grabbing of her arm was against her will. According the affidavit, there was no hitting and there were no injuries sustained that required medical treatment.
Mr. Henriquez was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail. Staff of the Florida Department of Corrections were notified of the arrest.
After an extensive four-day-long around the clock investigation, PCSO Homicide detectives solved the murder of 15-year-old Quashawn Burgess, Jr., of Bartow, which took place on Saint Paul Drive in Winter Haven during the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 12, 2023, and charged the suspect responsible for killing him and three other suspects with felonies.
The four suspects who were arrested and charged are:
Rashan Harris II, DOB 6/17/2003, of 550 South Florida Avenue in Bartow; charged with:
· Second degree murder (Capital Felony)
· Attempted armed robbery (F2)
· Conspiracy to commit armed robbery (F2)
· Dealing in stolen property (F2)
· Grand theft of a firearm (F3)
· Tampering with evidence (F3)
· Unlawful use of a two-way communication device (F3)
· Giving false info to LEO during a capital felony investigation (F3)
· Contributing to the delinquency of a minor (M1)
· Violation of probation (M2)
Lilia Gonzalez, DOB 7/16/1993, of 3044 Saint Paul Drive in Winter Haven; charged with:
· Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (F2)
· Dealing in stolen property (F2)
· Tampering with evidence (F3)
· Grand theft of a firearm (F3)
· Possession of Cocaine (F3)
· Possession of Marijuana with intent to sell (F3)
· Maintaining residence where controlled substances are illegally kept (F3)
· Possession of paraphernalia (M1)
Jase Govia, DOB 2/20/2000, of 3050 Saint Paul Drive in Winter Haven; charged with:
· Maintaining residence where controlled substances are illegally kept (F3)
· Possession of Marijuana with intent to sell (F3)
· Possession of Marijuana over 20 grams (F3)
· Possession of Paraphernalia (M1)
Pierre Sauveur, DOB 5/7/1989, of 3050 Saint Paul Drive in Winter Haven; charged with:
· Maintaining residence where controlled substances are illegally kept (F3)
· Giving false info to LEO during a capital felony investigation (F3)
· Possession of Marijuana over 20 grams (F3)
· Possession of Paraphernalia (M1)
“I said during the beginning of this investigation that my detectives would not stop working until they found the suspect or suspects responsible for this young man’s murder – and they did exactly that. What started as the attempted robbery of a female convicted felon illegally in possession of a stolen firearm ended in a fatal shooting. A series of really bad choices by everyone involved ended in a death and hopefully very long prison sentences for two others.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
The following is a timeline of events:
At approximately 2:30 a.m. on September 12, 2023, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding a young man who was found deceased in the driveway in front of 3050 Saint Paul Drive in Winter Haven. When first responders arrived, they located the victim, obviously deceased with a gunshot wound to his face. The reporting person discovered the victim after arriving at the location to visit a friend. During a neighborhood canvas, witnesses reported hearing a noise that sounded like a “pop” around 12:30 a.m. but thought it was fireworks.
Later that morning, PCSO positively identified the victim as Quashawn Burgess, Jr., who lived in Bartow with his mother. When they notified his mother of his death, she was unaware that he was not home sleeping during the evening hours. She saw him on her living room couch at 10:30 p.m. on September 11th when she went to bed. When detectives arrived at her house, she went to his bedroom and confirmed he was not there, and told them that she did not know when he had left or where he had gone.
Meanwhile, detectives were also canvassing the Saint Paul Drive neighborhood, talking to residents and looking for videos from the area during the time frame before, during, and after the crime. They found a video that depicted multiple people going into and out of 3050 Saint Paul Drive after the shooting, and then leaving in a white car. Detectives executed a search warrant at that address.
During the search warrant, detectives found two backpacks containing several bags containing marijuana. They interviewed resident Jase Govia, who admitted that he sells marijuana out of that house. He told them that he sold marijuana to three black males during the evening of September 11th. He said that after selling the illegal drugs, he left in a vehicle that was parked down the road waiting for him. After the interview, Govia was arrested and charged with the felony drug charges (see above). Govia’s associate, Pierre Sauveur, who picked him up in a car after the shooting, was also arrested and charged with felony drug charges (see above).
Through investigative means, detectives identified Rashan Harris II as being present with Quashawn when Quashwan was killed. Rashan was unable to be located at that point in the investigation.
Detectives identified the vehicle that was seen on video arriving at the scene before the shooting and then leaving the scene right after, as belonging to a friend of Rashan Harris. Detectives served a search warrant on the vehicle, which was parked at the vehicle owner’s house. Detectives confirmed that Rashan used the car on Monday and during the specific time frame of the murder early Tuesday morning.
Rashan was located and interviewed. Detectives interviewed Harris, who admitted he was at the scene with the victim when the homicide occurred, around 12:30 a.m., and that he fled without contacting law enforcement. Rashan stated that he picked up Quashawn in Bartow and took him to Saint Paul Drive to buy “weed” from the “weed man.” He said that after the purchase of marijuana, while he was sitting in the driver’s seat of the car they used and Quashawn walked around the corner, Rashan “hollered” at an unknown female to come speak to him. Rashan stated he and the female got into his vehicle and closed the door. Rashan stated he saw her door open and saw Quashawn attempting to remove her personal belongings and ultimately getting into an altercation with her. During the altercation, he heard a gun go off and saw Quashawn fall to the ground and saw the woman walk away. Rashan checked on the victim, saw that he was dead, and left the scene. Rashan described the female as white with brown hair.
Rashan Harris was taken into custody on Thursday, September 14th, and charged with two counts of violation of probation: he violated his probation curfew of 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.; and he left the deceased victim at the scene and failed to report his death. Detectives filed numerous additional felonies, including murder, against Rashan Harris at the conclusion of this investigation (see above).
Through extensive investigation, detectives identified the unknown woman as Lilia Gonzalez, who resided at 3044 Saint Paul Drive. Gonzalez fled the area right after the homicide, but detectives located her on Friday, September 15th.
During an interview, this is what Lilia told detectives:
· She asked Jase Govia (her neighbor) for Rashan Harris’ contact info so she could reach out to him and (illegally) purchase a gun
· On Monday evening, September 11th, she met with Harris in Bartow and bought a loaded handgun from him (she is a convicted felon, and the handgun was later confirmed stolen)
· That same evening, Harris contacted her and said he wanted to give her more bullets for the gun that he forgot to give her when she purchased it
· Harris came to Saint Paul Drive and parked next door to where she lived, and told her to come over to his car
· She was nervous about the visit, so she brought the gun with her in her pants pocket
· She was nervous standing outside the car talking to Harris, so she asked if they could sit in the car; she got into the front passenger seat and he got into the driver’s seat
· While sitting there, an unknown male, who was armed with a gun, opened her door and attempted to rip her bag off her back; a struggle ensued
· When she realized she was being robbed, she pulled the gun out of her pocket, and shot the male one time. She left because she did not want to get into trouble.
Lilia is a convicted felon out of Osceola County for a 2019 felony drug conviction. Detectives served a search warrant at her residence, and found the gun that she used to kill Quashawn, which was stolen in July 2023 from the city of Lakeland. This is the gun she bought from Rashan Harris. Detectives also found cocaine and marijuana, as well as several small clear baggies, in her home and vehicle. See above for her charges.
The criminal histories of all suspects who were arrested during this investigation are as follows:
Rashan Harris (DOB 6/17/2003) – From 2017 to 2022, he has been arrested and charged with 53 felonies and 26 misdemeanors, including: armed robbery, battery on LEO, larceny, grand theft, dealing in stolen property, resisting arrest, petit theft, burglary, failure to appear, and VOP. He just got out of the Polk County Jail in January 2023 – he was arrested in December 2020 and had 60 charges.
Lilia Gonzalez (DOB 7/16/1993) – From 2011 to 2019, she has been arrested and charged with 9 felonies and 7 misdemeanors, with one felony conviction. Her prior charges include: fraud, forgery, drug possession, larceny, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to appear, and VOP.
Jase Govia (DOB 2/20/2000) – From 2014 to 2018, he has been arrested and charged with 4 felonies and 2 misdemeanors, with one felony convictions. His prior charges include: armed robbery, battery domestic violence, recruiting criminal gang, burglary, resisting arrest, failure to appear, and VOP. He spent five years in state prison for robbery; he was just released in February 2023.
Pierre Sauveur (DOB 5/7/1989) – From 2005 to 2019, he has been arrested and charged with 2 felonies and 6 misdemeanors, with 2 felony convictions. His prior charges include: armed robbery, battery, fraud, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct, child neglect, DWLSR, failure to appear, and VOP. He spent four years in state prison (from 2009 to 2013) for robbery, child neglect, and burglary.
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Update: Sheriff Grady Judd will brief the media at 11:00 a.m. this morning (Monday, September 18, 2023) at the PCSO Sheriff’s Operations Center in Winter Haven regarding the homicide of 15 year old Quashawn Burgess Jr. The investigation has been solved by the PCSO Homicide Unit and arrests have been made.
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Sheriff Grady Judd briefed the media at the scene of a homicide that occurred overnight on St. Paul Drive in Winter Haven.
The victim was discovered around 2:30 a.m. this morning, September 12, 2023, in the driveway at the scene. He was 15 years old.
St. Paul Drive
There is a $5,000 CASH REWARD for information that leads to an arrest in this case.
Contact Heartland Crime Stoppers in one of four ways:
*CALL 1-800-226 TIPS (8477)
*DIAL **TIPS from your cell phone
*VISIT the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,”
*DOWNLOAD the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.
You will always remain anonymous and you may be eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.
An unidentified adult male pedestrian was struck by two vehicles last evening on State Road 60 at Nichols Road in Mulberry, and he was declared deceased at a local hospital. Preliminary details are as follows:
Just after 8:45 p.m. on Monday, September 11, 2023, the PCSO ECC received a 911 call regarding a vehicle versus pedestrian crash with injuries. First responders arrived and found an adult Hispanic male with critical injuries lying in the roadway. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
During the investigation, deputies interviewed 32-year-old Esdras Jean of Mulberry who told deputies that he was heading eastbound on SR 60 in a green 2011 Nissan Versa when he struck something that he did not see. After striking the victim, the victim rolled onto the hood and into the next lane. Jean made a U-turn and returned to the area, where he located the victim lying on the roadway. While interviewing Jean, 29-year-old Soledad De La Rosa of Mulberry arrived at the scene and approached deputies – she told them that she also struck something that was lying in the road which caused a flat tire on her white 2006 Nissan SUV.
Evidence indicates that the victim was in the outside lane of eastbound SR 60 when he was struck first by the Nissan being driven by Jean, and then he rolled into the outside lane, where he was run over by De La Rosa’s Nissan.
Neither driver showed any signs of impairment, and the investigation is ongoing. Detectives are still trying to positively identify the victim. Eastbound SR 60 was closed for approximately four hours.
The Traffic Homicide unit from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two related crashes that occurred Monday morning, September 11, 2023 east of Lake Wales; one of the crashes was a fatal hit & run, and the suspect(s) fled on foot.
At about 6:11am, a two-vehicle crash occurred in the intersection of State Road 60 and County Road 630 involving a white 2020 Chevrolet Traverse–driven by a 15-year old from Lake Wales, and a red 2012 Dodge pickup truck—driven by 50-year old Dan Pitisci of Indian Lake Estates.
The 15-year old driver was airlifted to a hospital with minor injuries; his 12-year old passenger was also airlifted with an injury to her head, and she was said to be in critical condition.
Mr. Pitisci was transported by ambulance to the hospital, and was treated and released.
The preliminary investigation shows that the westbound Chevrolet Traverse turned left to head south on CR 630, and crossed into the path of the Dodge pickup which was eastbound.
Following the first crash, a 34-year old Melbourne, Florida man parked his vehicle to assist the injured victims. At that time, a white 2012 Honda Odyssey van traveling east on SR 60 struck the Dodge pickup truck and caused it to rotate and hit the Good Samaritan, causing blunt force trauma to the man. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The occupant(s) of the Honda Odyssey immediately fled on foot.
A search for the suspect(s) by PCSO deputies, K-9 unit, and Aviation has so far been unsuccessful, but remains ongoing.
A check of the Honda Odyssey revealed that a salvage title was obtained for it in Arizona back in 2022, and it was serviced twice this year, once in Arizona, and also in New Mexico.
“We saw two completely different kinds of people on this crash—a brave, concerned man immediately trying to render aid to injured strangers, and a selfish coward who ran away. We’re going to do everything we can to find the person responsible, but we could use any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem. We need to know who that white 2012 Honda Odyssey belongs to, or who drove it. You can call our Traffic Homicide detectives at 863-668-3100, or you can call anonymously to Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS and even be eligible for a $5,000 reward if your information leads to an arrest.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
More Than 50 Jeeps Attend Inaugural Honor Our Heroes Convoy
by James Coulter
Patrick Evans remembers where he was on Sep. 11, 2001. He was at boot camp firing rounds on the training range and preparing to go to war when he heard the news.
22 years later, he and his family still remember that fateful day. On Sunday, he and his fellow patriots took to the road in their Jeep vehicles in honor of their local first responders and firefighters.
More than 50 Jeep vehicles participated in the inaugural Honor Our Heroes Jeep Convoy on Sun. Sep. 10. They started at Thunder Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Bartow and drove to Lakeland, all the while passing by fire and police departments in both cities.
Each vehicle took the opportunity to show their patriotic colors, either with their vehicles painted in red, white, and blue or by flying the red, white, and blue flag from their car.
More than 50 Jeeps participated, though they were originally anticipating 30 with those expectations being more than exceeded with at least 60 to 70, explained Patrick Evans of the Florida Jeep Connection.
“This event is about patriotism and remembering 9/11,” he explained. “So, it has been 22 years and we want to give the honor and respect to the officers and firefighters that are out here. So, we create a lot of unity with the Jeeps and Jeep owners we have out here.”
Evans owes their success to the community his organization has fostered with fellow Jeep owners. They have hosted plenty of other patriotic events in support of the military and law enforcement.
“We bring Jeeps together,” he said. “What makes this a success? To be able to turn around and be a joint effort with every different Jeep crew that is out there. It is about coming together.”
The one-of-a-kind PCSO deputy sheriff & patrol car Halloween costumes are for sale again this year at the REDUCED PRICE of just $20 each!
The costume comes with an inflatable patrol car & suspenders and child sized PCSO uniform shirt (with blank name tag space for personalization). Batteries not included.
Costumes are being sold at our main office, our five districts, and our two jail lobbies, in-person, cash only, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Here are our locations:
PCSO Sheriff’s Operations Center 1891 Jim Keene Blvd (near All Saints’ Academy), Winter Haven
Southwest District Office 4120 US Hwy 98 South (near the entrance to Polk State College), Lakeland
Northwest District Office 1045 Wedgewood Estates Blvd (near the Best Buy shopping center), Lakeland
Central District Office 3635 Avenue G NW (near Westwood Middle School), Winter Haven
Southeast District Office 4011 Sgt. Mary Campbell Way (across from Eagle Ridge Mall), Lake Wales
Northeast District Office 1100 Dunson Rd (near Cracker Barrel on US 27), Davenport
Central County Jail lobby 2390 Bob Phillips Rd, Bartow
South County Jail lobby 1103 US Hwy 98 West, Frostproof
Orlando man killed, Sanford woman injured in shooting at Airbnb rental in Davenport
A 27 year old Orlando man was shot and killed and a 26 year old Sanford woman was shot and wounded at an Airbnb rental home on Robin Road in unincorporated Davenport at approximately 12:30 a.m., early Sunday morning, September 10. Both victims were transported to Osceola Regional Medical Center. The man was later declared deceased, and the woman was treated for a gunshot wound and released. There was a family type gathering of people at the Airbnb rental celebrating a birthday.
According to witnesses, the male victim of the shooting walked out to the street in front of the home, and spoke to a person in a vehicle. The male victim was then shot in front of the home and another woman who was at the party was shot once. The driver of the vehicle then fled the subdivision last seen heading north towards Osceola Polk Line Road.
“We are looking for the suspect or suspects who took the life of this 27 year old young man and injured this young woman. We ask anyone who has information about the identity or location of those responsible to call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). There is a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. We need to get them into custody.” -Grady Judd, Sheriff
If anyone has information that could be helpful to this investigation, please contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200.
Anyone wishing to remain anonymous, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers in one of four ways:
CALL 1-800-226 TIPS (8477) DIAL **TIPS from your cell phone VISIT www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,” DOWNLOAD the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has advised that the crash on S.R. 60 is a fatality crash . It appears this is two crashes. The scene is being investigated, but a pedestrian is the fatality victim. It appears the pedestrian crash occurred after the vehicle crash. It’s again being investigated to determine if the pedestrian was involved in the initial crash or stopped to help. We will update as more information is released.
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“ Traffic advisory in Lake Wales – we are on the scene of a crash with injuries on SR 60 at CR 630-E. The eastbound lanes of SR 60 in that area are shut down until further notice.
Please use caution and/or alternate routes until further notice.”
Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies have identified the deceased boat driver involved in the single fatal boat crash from this morning on Lake Eloise in unincorporated Winter Haven. The deceased is 51 year old Michael J. McCarson of Winter Haven. His next of kin have been notified. After a thorough search of the area, and after interviewing those who know and who were with Mr. McCarson prior to the crash, detectives are ruling out any other victims related to this boat crash. Detectives have determined an approximate time of the crash to be at around 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning (this morning), September 9, 2023.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit is investigating the crash. We received a call this morning at around 6:50 a.m. from a fisherman reporting there was a disabled boat in the water that had run into a cypress tree. Deputies responded and discovered one deceased person in the water—identified as Mr. McCarson. At this point it appears to be a single boat crash where the boat collided with a cypress tree in the lake. The crash occurred near the north shore of the lake. Deputies will continue to investigate what circumstances may have led to the crash.
The PCSO Traffic Homicide Unit responded to a single motorcycle fatality this morning on Rockridge Road in north Lakeland, just west of the intersection with U.S. Hwy 98. Around 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 7, 2023, the ECC received a 911 call regarding the crash when a passerby spotted the motorcycle and adult male on the ground.
According to the girlfriend of the motorcyclist, who was 40-year-old Ronel Edward Kirkland II of Country Side Drive in Lakeland, he left her home around 1:00 a.m. this morning on his 2002 black and red Kawasaki motorcycle to go get a tool and she never heard from him after that. It appears that he failed to negotiate the left curve, and the bike went off the north shoulder of the roadway. The bike traveled across a small ditch, at which time Kirkland was ejected, striking a hog wire fence. It appears his head struck the fence post, and he was not wearing a helmet.
A photo from the scene is attached. Per normal protocol, the bike was placed upright by investigators to avoid fuel leaking into the ground.
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Lakeland, Florida – Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently on scene of a fatal crash on US Hwy 98 at Rockridge Rd. Rockridge Rd is closed all the way to Sherrouse Rd. Please choose alternate routes.
The crash involves a single motorcycle that ran off the road by failing to negotiate a curve, and ended in a field. The motorcyclist is deceased. The road will be open soon. No other people or vehicles were involved.
