The PCSO Traffic Unit is investigating a fatal vehicle
versus pedestrian crash that occurred last night (10-27-21) in unincorporated
Davenport.
Preliminary details are as follows:
Around 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, the
Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call in reference to a
pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle on US 27 at Florida Pines Boulevard in
unincorporated Davenport. The investigation revealed that 15-year-old Genesis
Ambrocio of Davenport was walking on the east side of US 27 and attempted to
cross to the west side of the highway, not in a designated crosswalk. At the
same time, 27-year-old Branden Castillo of Davenport was driving a black 2010
Nissan Rogue northbound on US 27 when he struck Ambrocio who was in the
roadway.
Castillo was uninjured and immediately stopped and called
911.
Ambrocio died at the scene.
Speed and impairment do not appear to be factors in the
crash. The roadway was dark at the time of the crash, and Ambrocio was wearing
dark colored clothing.
Further investigation revealed that Castillo’s driver’s
license was recently suspended for failure to pay traffic fines in Orange
County. Castillo was arrested for Driving with a Suspended License (M2) and
transported to the Polk County Jail. He has since been released after paying a
$250 bond.
No further charges are anticipated.
The northbound lanes of US 27 were closed at the
scene for approximately 3 1/2 hours during the investigation, which remains
on-going.
Over six days, Polk County Sheriff’s undercover detectives
conducted a special investigation known as “Operation No Tricks No Treats,”
with the intent of identifying and helping victims of human trafficking who
might be forced into prostitution.
Assisting PCSO in the operation which began on Wednesday,
October 20, 2021, were officers from the Auburndale, Haines City, Lake
Hamilton, Lake Wales, and Lakeland Police Departments.
The operation utilized internet advertisements to arrange
the meetings between undercover detectives and suspects, which took place at an
undercover location in Polk County.
“The primary purpose for these operations is to identify
victims of human trafficking and those who prey on the victims, as well as the
deviant child predators who stalk children online. We work hand-in-hand with
organizations to get help for the victims of human trafficking. We identified
three possible victims during this investigation.” -Grady Judd, Sheriff.
There were three people who came to the undercover location
to commit prostitution, but may be victims of human trafficking, one of whom is
a juvenile. Detectives worked with Selah Freedom, One More Child, Heartland for
Children, and Children’s Home Society Child Advocacy Center for assistance and
support.
Each person who was arrested for prostitution was given
immediate access to the members of the anti-trafficking organizations and
offered assistance.
Two men were arrested for soliciting who they thought were
children online. One of those suspects travelled to the location to meet the
“child,” and the other suspect was arrested in Orange County where he works, on
a Polk County Warrant.
There were 38 people arrested for offering to commit
prostitution, which is a second degree misdemeanor, and four of those suspects
have prior arrests for prostitution; of the 38 arrests, two are possible adult
victims of human trafficking – a third juvenile victim was not arrested. 62
were arrested who were soliciting a prostitute, which is a first degree
misdemeanor, and five of those were previously arrested for the same.
Some interesting notes from the operation:
· 11 of those
arrested told detectives that they are married.
· Detectives
charged those arrested with a total of 29 felonies and 143 misdemeanors.
· Criminal
histories of everyone arrested included 275 previous felonies and 429 previous
misdemeanors. Some of the prior histories include charges for kidnapping,
robbery, aggravated battery, and sex offenses.
· 4 of the
arrested were from other states (Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas).
· 55 suspects
live in Polk County.
· 14 suspects
told detectives they receive government assistance.
· Detectives
seized cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, MDMA (Ecstasy), and marijuana, from
those arrested during the operation.
· One of the
suspects is in the country illegally, and two of the possible trafficking
victims are here illegally.
· The oldest
person arrested is 78 years old, while the youngest is 19 years old.
The two child predators are:
Donald Spencer, 64, of Mulberry – Spencer posted an ad
online that stated in part “I want someone I can make love with, not to. Sure,
we may hit some roadblocks in our journey but if we respect and truly care for
each other then we can overcome any and all obstacles.” He thought he was
chatting online with a 14-year-old girl and after repeatedly asking her what
she wanted to do with him, said, “That’s why I’m a little weird right now I figured
if you brought up the sex then it wouldn’t be a set up. You know like I’m
talking of police sting operation. I would never hurt you or do anything you
didn’t want to do. But I truly would like to have the chance to love you oh, to
be with you and show you how much I really do care and yes I would love to make
love to you.” And: “So you’re telling me that you are real that you want to be
in a relationship with me and that this is in no part a police sting. I
certainly don’t want to be arrested for falling in love with someone.” Upon his
arrest, he told detectives that he had made a “bad decision.” He was charged
with Traveling to meet a minor after use of a computer to seduce a child (F2),
and Attempted lewd battery (F3).
Theodore Ryan Jones, 27, of Satellite Beach – Jones believed he was communicating online with a 14-year-old girl. He was sending her messages, including explicit nude photos of himself. He discussed in great detail what he would like to do to the girl, including taking her virginity. Jones works as a cook in Disney Springs, and was taken into custody there on the Polk County warrant. He was charged with Use of a computer to seduce a child (F3), 2 counts Transmission of material harmful to a minor (F3), and Use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony (F3).
Sheriff Grady Judd will brief the media at 9:30 a.m. this morning (Thursday, October 28, 2021) about a six-day long undercover investigation focusing on identifying and helping victims of human trafficking, at the PCSO Sheriff’s Operations Center located at 1891 Jim Keene Blvd in Winter Haven.
The Auburndale, Haines City, Lake Hamilton, Lake Wales, and Lakeland Police Departments participated in this investigation, which resulted in 102 suspects arrested (38 who offered to commit prostitution, 62 who solicited prostitutes, and two child predators). All of the suspects were from the central Florida area, with the exception of four who were from out-of-state. 55 of the suspects live in Polk County.
Detectives charged those arrested with a total of 29 felonies and 143 misdemeanors.
Of the 38 suspects arrested for offering to commit prostitution, two have been identified as possible human trafficking victims. One other person who arrived at the undercover location, a 17-year-old girl, was also identified and rescued.
Detectives worked with anti-trafficking organizations, and each suspect arrested for prostitution was offered assistance.
The two child predators were arrested for either traveling to meet a minor for sex, or transmitting materials harmful to a minor and soliciting a minor online.
Lakeland, Florida – Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 31-year old John Joseph Moore on October 21, 2021. Moore, who is known to some as John-John, had a warrant for Attempted Homicide with a Firearm, Armed Burglary, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Moore allegedly shot the victim approximately 6 times. The victim suffered injuries to 1) Gunshot wound to the right arm; 2) Gunshot wound to the chest; 3) Gunshot wound to the lower chest, which went through the liver; 4) Gunshot wound to the left and right arm (entering and exiting); 5) Gunshot wound to the left buttock; 6) Gunshot wound to the right buttock.
Martha Santiago: First Hispanic Female County Commissioner
by James Coulter
Martha Santiago speaks fluent English and Spanish. She considers herself a proud American and Hispanic. She lives in two worlds, yet she considers them all one family. For that reason, she desired to become a politician to serve both her family and community.
For the past three years, Santiago has served as a Polk County Commissioner for District 4. During that time, she has utilized her experience as an educator to better communicate the issues to her constituents. She has used her background as a Hispanic immigrant to represent their needs on the political level better.
“I always wanted to work for my county, for my city, for my people, to help them make it a better place to live,” she said. “That is why I got into the political arena: it was to work and serve our communities and hopefully make a difference in our county, especially since we are growing so much and there are so many issues involved to deal with.”
Santiago moved from Puerto Rico in 1979. Since then, she has resided in Polk County with her husband and daughter. She initially served in the school system as an English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) educator (previously called bilingual education).
She has lived in Winter Haven for the past 45 years. During that time, she gained experience through her career in education to improve her communication skills. Her expertise allowed her to better communicate and empathize with the people in her community, regardless of their background. She desired to help them better their lives, which inspired her to go into politics.
For the past three years, she has served as a county commissioner. Her primary focus has been with economic development. A firm believer in American lassie-faire capitalism, she aspires to help up-and-coming entrepreneurs, especially immigrants, start their small businesses and help them grow into larger companies by advocating for more lenient taxes and regulations.
As a fellow Puerto Rican, she has seen many immigrants from the island arrive following Hurricane Maria. Many of them aspire to become entrepreneurs and start their businesses. To assist them, she strives to offer them the information and education in their native language to start and grow their business, she said.
She also wants to stimulate economic growth and development by attracting larger industries to the county and improving and maintaining infrastructure, especially roads and utilities, to facilitate better the businesses that are already here.
“That is the most important thing we can do for Polk County is to help with small business,” she said. “I want to make sure the money we get from the people, the citizens, who pay taxes are spent wisely, and infrastructure is one of my main things.”
Her biggest accomplishment as a politician has been to enter office in the first place. She is proud to serve the county as its first female Hispanic commissioner. She understands the significance of that title and what it means to the overall changing face of the American people.
“I think that is a game-changer and a great accomplishment,” she said. “It has come with a lot of sacrifices. But they are a sign that the times are changing.”
Not only does she use her position to communicate the issues with her constituents better, but ensure that they are communicated in a way that everyone can understand, regardless of their native language or background. With so many Hispanic residents split between those who can and cannot speak English, she wants to ensure that they remain informed on the relevant issues and their lives.
Santiago remains on her toes by being a diligent worker and avid reader. As someone out and about within the community, she never hesitates to answer any questions that her constituents have or address their concerns. Only by remaining active within the community can she better represent those within it, she said.
“I am a people person, so I am accessible to people,” she said. “Being accessible to people, you get to hear a lot of things with issues that are going on and being able to help, and there is no problem with being able to ask me things…I am out and about in the community as much as I possibly can, knowing that it is a large county, and I try to get out and about as much as I can, which provides people access to their elected official.”
With an election year right around the corner, she has high expectations of running again for another four-year term. She also expects, as a vice chairwoman, to become madam chair for her next term. She hopes to retain her office and continue using her position to serve others, and she expects to grow as a person so she can be the best she can be.
“I am excited and blessed,” she said. “I am privileged to be able to serve Polk County as a county commissioner. I am excited that the county and citizens have elected me…I encourage Hispanics to step out and be engaged in their community and be part of boards and things like that so they can get to know their county and eventually run for political positions. Stepping out is not easy, but it is still worth it and a wonderful experience.”
Frostproof Fall Street Dance Gears Up for Halloween Weekend
by James Coulter
If you’re looking for some autumn fun that’s not to spooky, then come on down for a hooten nanny time at the Frostproof Fall Street Dance, this Sat., Oct. 30 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
East Wall Street will light up the night with food trucks, live musical performances, and, of course, plenty of conversation and camraderie from local residents.
Enjoy live musical entertainment performed by Tristian Tritt, the son of Travis Tritt, the country music legend, and his four-piece band, who will be releasing his upcoming single.
Normally, the biannual Frostproof Street Dance hosts the Out of Hand band, but as they were unavailable, Tristian Tritt and his band were chosen as a fitting replacement.
Vice Mayor Austin Gravley booked Tritt for the gig, then traveled to Taveres to listen to him in person and to ensure his tunes were the best and ask him personally. Needless to say, it more than met expectations, and Gravley hopes that street dance attendees will love it just as much, he said.
With this year’s fall street dance falling on Halloween, a costume contest will be hosted. Attendees will be able to compete in two categories: children 14 and under, and families. Dress your best for the opportunity to win first place.
The costume contests are expected to be hosted around the band’s first break at 9 p.m. Serving as a guest judge will be Justin Sharpless, a Polk County School Board candidate. The contest will be hosted around the time city trick-or-treating will end, so expect to drop by in your costume afterwards.
“So I think around 8 p.m., the party is really going to get started,” Gravley said. “People getting done with trick or treating, the hay ride will be full up, and we are hoping we are getting plenty, we have a golf cart ordinance, so I am hoping when we get plenty of golf carts showed up.”
Since 2017, the City of Frostproof has been hosting and sponsoring its biannual street dance along East Wall Street in the downtown area, right in front of the historic, majestic Ramon Theater. Since then, the street dance has been a well-cherished hometown tradition that never ceases to disappoint, even during these uncertain times, Gravely said.
“I never had anybody come try a street dance who didn’t enjoy it or like it,” Gravely said. “There is nothing not to like about it. Good food, good fellowship, and good music. I just encourage everyone to come out and check out the music and enjoy the food and everybody is more than welcome.”
The Frostproof Fall Street Dance will be hosted Sat., Oct 30 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at East Wall Street, located in Downtown Frostproof in front of the Ramon Theater. For more information, visit the City of Frostproof’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/cityoffrostproof
Welcome, World Travelers! 13 Haunted Facts About The Haunted Mansion
by James Coulter
For more than 50 years, The Haunted Mansion has been offering guests ghoulish delight with its more than 999 happy haunts—and there’s always room for 1,000! The mansion’s walls havemany stories behind it, and here are 13 haunted facts about our favorite mansion:
1. “Is this room actually stretching?” It depends on which Haunted Mansion you’re visiting. In Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, the roof of the stretching room is stretching upward. In Disneyland, the floor is stretching downward, as the room is an elevator that lowers guests underground to the ride. Either way, it’s not just your imagination.
2. The Ghost Host narrator was voiced by Paul Frees. The famed voice actor also performed the voices of notable characters such as Boris Badenov in “The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show,” KARR from “Knight Rider,” and Proffesor Ludwig Von Drake in many Disney shorts.
3. Each of the tombstones in the queue area graveyard pay tribute to an Imagineer who helped create the ride. For example, “Master Gracey” refers to Yale Gracey, an Imagineer who created most of the special effects and visual illusions. “Grandpa Marc” refers to Mard Davis, who painted the stretching room portraits. And “Brother Claude” refers to Claude Coats, who developed the ride layout and painted the portrait gallery portraits.
4. The Haunted Mansion is one of the only attractions that appears in a different land in a different park. Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion is located in New Orleans Square, Disney World’s is located in Liberty Square, and Tokyo Disneyland’s is located in Westernland (Frontierland). Disneyland Paris has Phantom Manor, which is located in Frontierland, while Hong Kong Disneyland has Mystic Manor, which is located in Mystic Point. Shanghai Disneyland is the only Disney Park without a Haunted Mansion attraction.
5. The Hatbox Ghost was one of the original characters created for the ride when it originally opened in Disneyland in 1969. The animatronic featured a special effect where its head would disappear off of its body and appear, true to its name, inside the hatbox it carried. However, as the effect never worked properly, the animatronic was removed from the ride shortly after it opened. A new Hatbox Ghost animatronic was installed in 2015.
6. The ballroom scene is created using a visual effect called Pepper’s Ghost, where the animatronics are reflected via mirror onto glass to make them appear ghostlike. However, the Imagineers never factored in how the reflection would reverse the images of the animatronic dancers. As such, the effect makes it appear as thought the women are leading the waltz rather than the men.
7. Contrary to urban legend, Walt Disney’s face does not appear as one of the singing busts in the graveyard scene. The main bust is voiced by Thurl Ravenscroft, who performs the lead vocals to the song, “Grim Grinning Ghosts.” He’s most famous for voicing Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes mascot, Tony The Tiger.The other busts are performed by Chuck Schroeder, Bob Ebright, Jay Meyer, and Verne Rowe.
8. The original version of the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland was rumored to be so scary that one of the guests suffered a heart attack, forcing the ride to be closed and revamped to be “less scary.” Snopes confirms this urban legend to be false. As the website states: “The Haunted Mansion has undergone only relatively minor changes since it originally opened…[and] no one has ever suffered a heart attack brought about by touring the attraction.”
9. Another rumor asserts that the horse-drawn hearse in front of the Disneyland Haunted Mansion was originally used to carry the body of the Mormon patriarch Mormon patriarch to his burial in 1877. Snopes also debunks this claim as false. As the website states: “The truth is, nobody really knows where Disneyland’s hearse came from. Disneyland purchased it from a Malibu collector named Dale Rickards, but he had no documents to establish its lineage.”
10. When Imagineers were still developing the attraction, they wanted to test out the special effects and props to see how scary they were. Imagineer Rolly Crump tells how they outfitted their workshop with motion sensors so that, when the sensors were tripped, the lights turned off and the animatronics turned on. The very next morning, they came in to find the effects still running and a janitor’s broom in the middle of the floor. The custodial staff was so scared that they refused to come back.
11. The hitchhiking ghosts that “follow you home” at the end of the ride actually have names. The tall hitchhiker in the hat is named Ezra, the one in ball and chains is named Gus, and the one carrying the carpetbag is named Phineas.
12. Many guests have taken the invitation to become the 1,000th ghostly mansion resident literally. Many guests have attempted to spread the ashes of their deceased loved ones into the attraction. “The Haunted Mansion probably has so much human ashes in it that it’s not even funny,” one Disneyland custodian told the Wall Street Journal. In fact, the spreading of ashes happens so frequently in Disney parks that cast members have a special code (“HEPA cleanup”) and protocol to address the situation and clean up the remains.
13. Being a dark ride, the Haunted Mansion is a popular place for couples to make out. However, many adventurous lovers have been caught doing far more than kissing and hugging. Many cast members have reported catching guests engaging in”hanky panky” on the ride, and even calling them out on the ride’s loud speaker to make them stop.
Those are my thoughts, but I want to know what you think: What do you love most about the Haunted Mansion? Leave your comments below or on Facebook!
Lake Wales Pioneer Days Makes Epic Return For 45th Annual Event
by James Coulter
Gail Ward remembers the good old days fondly when her great grandmother would make homemade chicken and dumplings and banana pudding every Sunday. So to help relive those good old days, she dons her bonnet and apron and shares her most cherished tradition by making her comfort food during Lake Wales Pioneer Days.
Since 2007, Ward and her husband, Jimmy, have participated inthe annual historic festival hosted by the Lake Wales Museum. She had previous experience working as a Civil War reenactor in 2006. The following year, she was approached and invited to participate in Pioneer Days.
This year, they handled the chuckwagon tent by cooking chicken and dumplings over an open fire with banana pudding and vanilla wafers for dessert. Attendees who dropped by the tent could try free samples of the good old-fashioned Florida Cracker cooking.
Her secret to making good chicken and dumplings? The seasoning and the butter. But more than simply making good food, she loves being able to attend the festival as a way to relive cherished memories of days gone by as well as share traditions and history with the next generation.
“I love it,” she said. “Just the thrill and enjoyment of it keeps me coming back.”
Gail was one of the many vendors and demonstrators who attended Lake Wales Pioneer Days, the annual historic festival hosted by the Lake Wales Museum and Cultural Center. Many other reenactors dressed in historical costumes and demonstrated crafts like broom making, sewing, and metalworking.
Paul Wiedorn has been blacksmithing for the past ten years. He previously worked in Maryland at the Chesapeake Forge, and he has since retired and moved to Bradenton, Florida. He has since been hosting demonstrations throughout the state.
This year was his first attending Pioneer Days in Lake Wales. Someone else was scheduled to attend and demonstrate, but they were unable to attend. So a representative from the Southwest Region of the Florida Artist Blacksmith AssociationapproachedWiedorn and asked him to attend.
Wiedorn loves being able to demonstrate his craft. He makes items like hooks and metal turners. When it comes to metalsmithing, he says there are two cardinal sins most blacksmiths make, according to his experience: hit steel that is too cold, and sell wares that are too cheap.
“It is an artistic endeavor,” he said. “For years, I wanted to see if we could do it. It was something I wanted to do when I retired, and it is amazing that the art has been resurrected by the Florida Artist Blacksmith Association.”
Aside from historical demonstrations, the festival showcasedvendors from other local businesses and merchants and offeredother activities, including food trucks, live music, and arts and crafts. A children’s area was provided to offer pumpkin painting, yard games, and even a petting zoo.
The museum invited Stephanie Eckstein to organize the pumpkin patch and children’s area. The children’s area offered free pumpkin painting with the purchase of a pumpkin. She had been attending the annual event for the past ten years, so participating in it was nothing short of an honor for her.
“It is such a great community event,” she said. “It is a fantastic event. The weather is great, the activities are perfect, and the participation is really good.”
Every year, Lake Wales Pioneer Days honors a local individual within the local community by naming them Pioneer of the Year. This year, that honor was bestowed upon Gladys Howell, a local 95-year-old resident who has been living in Lake Wales for the past 50 years.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, last year’s event was canceled. This year had the event make its epic return, with the turnout more than exceeding initial expectations, explained Lake Wales Museum Director Jennifer D’Hollander.
“The most exciting thing is that people are more than willing and ready and excited to come back to the festival because we have not had a festival for so long,” she said. “I was concerned that maybe we would not have as many people, but it was the opposite. We have a tremendous crowd, and we could not be happier.”
For the past 45 years, Pioneer Days has been keeping the local history and tradition of Lake Wales alive. Not only is the event great for residents to relish in their collective history, but also enlightening for out-od-town visitors who are new to the area, D’Hollander said.
“I think because it is a festival for everyone,” she said. “There is something here for everyone to enjoy and experience to shop and learn, and it is all about the community, and the community comes together to put it on. There are so many different organizations and volunteers that are involved. It is a community festival for and by the community.”
More Than 300 Jeeps Trek Out To 3rd Annual Frostproof Jeeptoberfest
by James Coulter
Lyle Tripp, Frostproof Chamber President, is a proud Jeep owner. He loves Jeep vehicles, and he enjoys networking with other Jeep owners. So, creating a Jeep event for his city seemed like a good idea. “I wanted to bring it here to Frostproof because I know it is a good crowd,” he said.
The Frostproof Chamber of Commerce started Jeeptoberfestthree years ago. Since then, the annual Jeep event has grown bigger and better. More than 300 Jeep vehicles attended this year’s event on Saturday.
The previous two events were hosted on Henderson Field in Downtown Frostproof. Each year filled the sports field with Jeep vehicles, to the point where The Resort At Canopy Oaks made the generous offer to host the event at their 435-acre campground facility.
“This year Canopy Oaks offered their property to host it here,” Tripp said. “Being they are a member of the Frostproof Chamber of Commerce, we wanted to jump on that. They wanted to showcase their property, and they let us use some of their land to make a trail ride.”
At this year’s event, attendees could drive along a makeshift Jeep trail at the campgrounds and participate in a scavenger hunt in the City of Frostproof for a chance to win raffle prizes. Both activities allowed attendees to peruse the city and the campgrounds and see what both locations had to offer.
Since starting three years ago, the annual Jeep event has experienced tremendous growth in participation and turnout. The first event drew in nearly 100 participants, and the second year drew in 300. This year’s event drew in between 300 to 500 Jeep vehicles, said Austin Gravely, Frostproof Vice Mayor.
Gravley attended the event that weekend, not only as the vice mayor and as a member of the Frostproof Chamber of Commerce, but as a representative of Kelly Buick, which served as a sponsor this year. Overall, he was amazed by this year’s turnout, even despite these uncertain times.
“It was a great turnout,” he said. “I didn’t think it would get bigger than last year, but it definitely did…It was a great turnout. I didn’t think it would get bigger than last year, but it definitely did.”
This year’s event experienced a massive turnout even before the event opened to the public, said Melody Kincaid, Vice President of the Frostproof Chamber. She owes the overall growing success to word-of-mouth and the organization of the Chamber.
“We are very impressed by the turnout thus far,” she said. “There was a lot of traffic coming in even before we started…We are on Cloud Nine. We are very excited, very impressed with everything. Everything is running really smooth with a lot of networking going on between all the Jeep owners from everywhere from Georgia to Miami. They are coming from everywhere. We are very happy.”
When The Resort At Canopy Oaks reached out to the Chamber to host the event at their campgrounds, Kincaid and her fellow Chamber members jumped at the opportunity, especially since the RV resort is a Chamber member.
“Canopy Oaks reached out to us,” she said. “They had seen the capacity we reached with Henderson Field last year, and they knew that they had faith in us that this year’s event would be much bigger. And they opened their grounds to us and offered a piece of their resort to use for our event. We are very grateful for them…It exceeded [our expectations] so far and it keeps rolling in.”
On Saturday, October 23, 2021 Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 32-year-old Ernesto Lopez Morales here illegally from Guatemala after a hit and run crash that a killed 5-year-old child.
According to evidence
and witness statements, just before 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Morales was driving
a 2005 black Chevrolet Suburban west on S.R. 60 in Mulberry at a high rate of
speed and with no headlights on. Morales drove his vehicle into the back of a
2016 gray Hyundai Elantra driven by a Plant City woman. The Elantra was pushed
more than 600 feet, and both vehicles came to a stop in the eastbound lane
facing west near the intersection of Espo Drive, west of Mulberry.
When paramedics
arrived on scene, they found the 5-year-old girl deceased. The driver of the
Elantra was transported to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
Paramedics and other
witnesses saw Morales run away from the crash scene before deputies arrived,
leaving his Suburban at the scene.
Deputies searched the
area and Morales was located in a house where he was residing. Morales told
deputies he drank six 32-ounce beers and then left his residence to go buy
more. He admitted to not turning on his headlights and fleeing from the crash
location. He also told deputies he left the crash because he doesn’t have
insurance or a driver’s license.
A search of Morales’
driving history revealed that he does not a valid Florida Driver’s license and
has never been issued a driver’s license in Florida or any other state.
Deputies obtained a
warrant for a blood test, which showed Morales had a blood alcohol level of
.108 grams of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. The legal threshold for DUI is 0.08
grams of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.
“Morales has no regard
for the law or human life, and we are going to do everything possible to hold
him accountable. If he had been in Guatemala and not in the United States
illegally, this beautiful little girl would still be alive today.”– Grady Judd, Sheriff
Morales was arrested
for:
Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving a Death
(F1)
DUI Manslaughter (F2)
Driving with No Driver’s License Causing Death
(F3)
Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Injury
(F3)
DUI Property Damage (M1)
Morales was
transported to the Polk County Jail and has a $22,500 bond. Due to Morales
residing in the United States illegally, the U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement initiated a hold on him.
