On Thursday, 11/25/2021 the Bartow Police department responded to Bluebird Ave in Bartow in reference to a possible runaway, a 15-year-old with medical disabilities.
A search of the area was conducted by Bartow Police Department patrol units as well as the K9 Unit, detectives, and support personnel from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The search continued throughout the evening and into the late morning hours of 11/26/2021.
On the morning of Friday, 11/26/21, the Bartow Police Department requested the assistance of the public to start conducting an area search. Numerous citizens took the call and began responding. At approximately 11:30 AM, just prior to beginning the search, the missing was youth located in Lakeland by a concerned citizen.
The child was found in good health and will be reunited with family soon. The BPD would like to thank all members of the department and the many citizens who responded with tips and information and assisted in the search over the last several hours.
The WAY Center Celebrates Another Annual Fall Fundraiser
by James Coulter
A young lady had been in a nine-year relationship with a man who considered her worthless. He forced her to quit her job and controlled every aspect of her life. They drifted from motel to motel and regularly got high.
One day, her boyfriend left for work and never returned. She found herself without a home, job, or money. She was scared out of her mind. The death of both her grandparents proved to be the breaking point for her.
She prayed to God and asked Him if this was the life she was supposed to have. God responded by opening doors of opportunity for her, all of which led her to The Way Center in Haines City. There, she turned her life around both literally and spiritually.
She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized. She lost 25 pounds, she has been sober for 74 days and counting, and she is currently seeking a career in criminal justice.
“All my hard work paid off and I am where I need to be,” she said. “My foundation has been laid and my future is amazing. I know I am love I am worthy and I am not disposable I am strong through Christ who strengthens me. Without you all I would not be standing here today.”
This young woman was one of many women whose lives were touched by The Way Center. She gave her testimony during its annual fundraiser last Thursday evening at Snively Ranch in Haines City.
Several dozen residents, business owners, and philanthropists from the Haines City community congregated at Snively Ranch on Thursday evening to learn more about The Way Center and the services it provides to local women and families in need.
Attendees were able to enjoy a dinner catered by The Cattle Company while listening to musical performance, a comedic keynote speech, and several testimonies from women who were assisted and supported through the non-profit organization.
Another young lady ran away from an abusive family. Even in a relationship, she felt alone. Upon learning that her one-year-old son’s father had been caught in a series of lies, she decided to reside in Florida, where she had originally left for vacation.
She was recommended The Way Center, and there she turned her life around for the better. She took several workshops about parenting to better develop her skills as a mother. She took an aptitude test that assessed her abilities. She receives child care vouchers, diapers for her son, and clothes for an interview. Most importantly, she re-dedicated her life to Christ and made the decision to get re-baptized.
“I would not now where I would be without you all,” she said to the staff members in the audience that evening.
The Way Center is a non-profit faith-based organization dedicated to serving women, children, and families in need. As their website states: “The WAY Center Mission is to provide a variety of spiritual and social services for families in need or crisis. Our desire is to work with our clients for a period of time to help them overcome obstacles that keep them from meeting personal, financial & spiritual goals.”
This year, The Way Center was able to purchase the building to their thrift store thanks to the generosity of their landlord and Polk County Sheriff’s Charities. They also invested in a new computer database to help streamline their case management services and internal communications, and they received additional training to handle situations concerning unemployment, human trafficking, and domestic violence.
“We want to see lives transformed through the love of Christ,” said LeAnn Price, Executive Director. “As the world gets darker, we are a light in the darkness and a beacon of hope for those who are lost.”
In-between his comedic quips about being unable to put his airline seat in its upright position during a recent flight and getting two six-inch sponges stuck in his stomach following a surgery, keynote speaker Mike Williams lauded how his life had benefited from organizations like The Way Center.
Williams grew up in Chicago in a family of five. One brother died on the streets, another died in jail, and two sisters became drug addicts. His mother offered to give him away to the mailman, who mentioned that his daughter was praying for a child for 12 years. Mike was taken into his new family, where he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
Sadly, tragedy struck when his foster mother became stricken with multiple sclerosis and his father had a car fall on him while fixing it, crushing his leg and breaking his back, and forcing him to become addicted to pain killers. Through such hard times, charities and organizations similar to The Way Center reached out to help him and his family.
“I know that everyone in this room is one tragedy away from life going crazy,” Williams said. “I am here tonight because of organizations like The Way Center. I am here because of people who said they cared…Everyone wants to know that through this journey of life [that they] matter and you can do that through The Way Center.”
To learn more about The Way Center, visit their website at: https://www.thewaycenter.org/
At around 10:30 p.m.
on Monday, November 22, 2020, PCSO deputies located a stolen vehicle at the Shell gas station (2225
Combee Road S) in unincorporated Lakeland. The vehicle was a silver 2009 Ford F150 reported stolen from
Okeechobee County.
The driver, later
determined to be 50-year-old Tracy Mercer of Avon Park, was asleep
behind the wheel. As deputies attempted to make contact with Mercer, he woke up
and fled southbound on Combee Road South before turning North on to US 98
South.
Deputies followed the
stolen vehicle at a distance.
Mercer fled the area,
turning westbound on Holloway Park Drive where he drove the stolen truck
through a chain link fence dragging pieces of the fence behind the truck.
Mercer then stuck a barbed wire fence where livestock was held as well as a
second chain link fence and gate. Deputies activated their emergency lights and
attempted to stop the stolen vehicle.
Mercer then turned
southbound on Marion Drive heading back to US 98 South, where he continued to
flee from deputies and committed two hit and run crashes when the fence pieces
he was dragging struck two vehicles.
As Mercer approached
Hancock Avenue Southeast in Highland City on US 98, deputies attempted to stop
the stolen truck by using stop sticks which successfully punctured and deflated
the front passenger side tire. Mercer did not stop, and continued toward Bartow
where he struck another vehicle at the intersection of US 98 and CR 540A.
The Bartow Police
Department assisted deputies by blocking traffic at the intersection of US 98
and SR 60 causing Mercer to continue along US 98 and onto Broadway Avenue. As
he approached Clower Street, a deputy engaged the stolen vehicle in a PIT
(precision immobilization technique) maneuver, successfully stopping Mercer.
No one was injured
during this incident.
When deputies
apprehended Mercer, he was smoking methamphetamine in a pipe and still had his
foot pressed on the accelerator causing the tires to spin. Mercer was taken
into custody, arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail.
“This career felon’s
criminal history speaks for itself. He is a menace to society and obviously has
no regard for the public’s safety. We will do everything we can to hold this
man accountable for his actions and send him back to prison, away from society,
where he belongs.”– Grady Judd,
Sheriff
The following was
located during a search of the vehicle:
Over 31 grams of methamphetamine
A stolen license plate
A shotgun
13 rounds of 12 gauge shotgun ammunition
43 rounds of 40 caliber ammunition
Drug paraphernalia
Mercer was transported
to the Polk County Jail and charged with:
Leaving the Scene of a Crash (M2) (3 counts)
Knowingly Driving with a Suspended License
(M1)
DUO with Property Damage (M1) (3 counts)
DUI (M1)
Fleeing to Elude (F2)
Criminal Mischief (F3)
Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon
(F2)
Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
(F2)
Petit Theft (M1)
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1)
Damaging Fence Containing Animals (F3)
Tampering with Evidence (F3)
Grand Theft Auto (F3)
Armed Trafficking in Methamphetamine (FL)
Mercer had a warrant for
Violation of State Probation, as well as a warrant for Highlands County for
charges of Conspiracy to Traffic in Methamphetamines, Fleeing to Elude, 3
counts of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Harassing a
Police Dog. He is currently being held without a bond.
Mercer’s criminal
history includes 4 prison incarcerations, 53 felonies, and 24 misdemeanors.
Some of his previous charges are:
This Former Convict Turned His Life Around. Now He Writes Uplifting Music to Inspire Young People
by James Coulter
Sometimes to get the masses out of the street and into the church, you need to go into the streets. That’s been the driving philosophy behind the street gospel of artist Don Solomon Donaldson.
His songs contain street rhythm combined with the transcendental spiritual messages of hymns. Together, they create music that uplifts the children of the streets, encouraging them to seek a higher purpose in life and strive to do better.
When Donaldson shares his message, it’s never in a pandering manner. When he sings how today’s youth can do better, it’s always straight from his heart and based on his own experiences. As a troubled youth who spent time in prison and inevitably turned his life around for the better, he wants his music and experience to inspire others to set their lives straight, delivering messages he wished he heard as a boy.
“I am not afraid to go into the streets and tell people about hope and God and that they can change,” he said. “There is hope no matter the circumstances they are in, and anybody can change.”
By all accounts, Robert Andre Donaldson should have grown up to be an upstanding citizen. He was raised in a Christian home with a family of pastors and clergy. He grew up in Lake Wales with his mother, but circumstances had him live with his grandfather in Babson Park.
Despite being raised in a Godly environment, Donaldson grew up to be rude, disobedient, and unruly. His wild life as a troubled teen led him down a dark path where he ended serving time in juvenile detention and prison.
His older cousin, Justifi Donaldson, was fortunate enough to grow up taking the straight and narrow path by dedicating his life to God and becoming ordained as a minister. Seeing his younger cousin passing through the wide gate and down the narrow path that leads to destruction disheartened him. So, one Easter weekend, Justifi visited Andre in jail and shared with him the Word of God. As a result, Andre was successfully led to Christ and determined to turn his life around.
“Since then, we have been walking closer,” Justifi said. “For the past seven years, it has been a complete turnaround in his life, in his choices and decision-making, in his relationship with God, and having a will, not just a relationship, but a will to change.”
During his time in prison, Donaldson re-committed his life to God and passed his time by studying his Bible, dictionary, and thesaurus and using his new knowledge to write poems and music. By the time he was released, he had written 1,000 songs.
Donaldson had grown up with a musically-inclined family, with many members singing in the choir and performing instruments. However, he did not learn he had musical talent until he enrolled in the musical programs in juvenile detention.
Since then, he combined his newfound talent with his rekindled walk with God to write music to not only spiritually uplift others but also inspire and uplift himself. His message was as much to convince him as well as others that a better path was possible.
“Music has been my escape,” he said. “It helps me from going back to the streets.”
While incarcerated, he obtained his GED, and upon his release, he had earned his driver’s license. He then rekindled his relationships with his family and girlfriend and became employed. Whatever money he had leftover from his rent and bills, he invested into a studio. He went through several studios and started recording his music.
His journey soon opened new doors for him and provided him with better opportunities to share his music. Since then, he has recorded several songs and albums, performed the opening act for two-time Grammy-award winner, Canton Jones (Cajo), and filmed a video with Mr. Jones that was recently released on Nov. 1.
“God helped me find a way and seek out a way to make the music for the betterment of the community and the youth,” he said. “So sticking with it is hard. It has not been easy. It has been hard. There have been many times where I wanted to give up,and so, I think every person who has come from where I came from, they have a temptation to give up and go back to what they used to be doing, because, right now, it has been a struggle…I am not wanting for nothing, so I want to keep pushing with what little I do have.”
This year will be seven years since he was released from prison. Seeing how his life has changed from the moment he accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior in his jail to where he is now is nothing short of awe-inspiring. It is the inspiration he wishes to impart unto others.
“I give them inspiring words of hope and tell them that they can change also, but to change, they cannot get out and continue to do the things they did that got them in there in prison or jail,” he said. “I owe it to all the positive people who helped me…and to God, all the people who kept telling me to keep going and who believed me. I cannot give myself all of the credit.”
His cousin, Justifi, watched him walk his life path from a troubled teen and convict to a changed man and accomplished musician. If anyone’s music has the power to change the world and inspire millions, it’s him, he asserts.
“Right now, he is the hottest thing in Florida,” Justifi said. “His music, you gravitate toward it because you can hear his pain and struggle, you can also hear his victory as well…It will enlighten. It will encourage. It will inspire. It will strengthen and give you something to strive for and thank God for, to have you analyzing your own life and you can relate to it…and I think once the world hears it, it can change the world, it can change the vibrations of the whole earth realm.”
To learn more about Don Solomon Donaldson and his music, visit his website at: https://www.donsolomondonaldson.com/
Former Christian Camp Executive Director Named Lake Wales Citizen of the Year
by James Coulter
For more than 50 years, Bill Redmon has dedicated his life to serving others in the Lake Wales Community, from assisting with fundraisers and working as a camp director, to creating a vision for a water park accessible to people with disabilities.
His life of “passion and compassion” was rewarded last Friday evening when he received the honor of being named the Citizen of the Year at the 5th Annual Lake Wales Chamber Annual Gala.
Redmon served as the Executive Director at Lake Aurora Christian Camp for 34 years, during which time he helped expand the camp’s facility from 25 to 75 acres. He had also been involved with many local civil and civic organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, Depot Museum, Lake Wales Rotary, and Circle of Friends.
He started many fundraisers for local organizations and causes, including the Lake Wales Soccer Club, Rotary Club, and Interact. One of his most popular fundraisers is the Big Kahuna Paddle Challenge to help fund local boys and girls camps.
Redmon serves as the President of Removing the Barriers Initiative, a local non-profit with the mission of “helping to remove the barriers to great experiences for people with disabilities.” Their major project is Stirring Waters, a proposed water park to be built in east Lake Wales with the goal of being inclusive of people with disabilities.
Larry Bossarte, who was last year’s Citizen of the Year recipient, boasted about how everyone in attendance would know who this year’s winner would be from his accomplishments alone. Bossarte described Redmon as a “truly amazing person” with “passion and compassion” who “tackles extraordinary challenges.”
Even with everything that he has accomplished in the past half century, Redmon himself was “shocked” to have received his honorary title that evening. He owed his success to his wonderful community and to the grace of God.
“God gifted me with ideas…[and] as long as God keeps me living, those visions keep coming,” he said.
The Greater Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council hosted its Fifth Annual Awards Gala last Friday at Lake Ashton Country Club. This year’s event had a Western theme, with judging for best cowboy, cowgirl, and western-themed outfit.
Several awards were presented that evening to citizens and organizations that exemplified the spirit of the local community. The Carl F. Durso Award for Excellence in Business was conferred to both AdventHealth Lake Wales & All Veterans Center, Inc.
AdventHealth Lake Wales was recognized for its valiant efforts in the past year during the ongoing pandemic, and the All-Veterans Center was recognized for assisting local veterans.
Since its start in 2017, the organization has assisted 33 homeless veterans and prevented seven suicides, its representative said.
Jerry Miller Community Leadership Award was awarded to Tony Mathewson of the Lake Wales Soccer Club. The Community Service Organization of the Year Award was awarded to the Lake Wales Soccer Club. And the Public Servant of the Year Award was given to Zaliet Suri, Assistant to the City Manager, Deputy City Clerk, and Cemetery Division Coordinator.
Mayor Eugene Fultz accepted the award on behalf of Suri, who was unable to make it that evening due to a family situation. He spoke highly of her ability to manage the city office, especially during the absence of the city manager, and her ability to maintain decorum while attending to family members of recently deceased while assisting them with locating plots in the city cemetery.
“When they come in [to the cemetery division] to do business, she comforts them during the purchase,” Mayor Fultz said. “She does not treat it like a business, she treats it like a family member addressing another family member.”
Last evening, November 21, 2021, the PCSO Traffic Unit was called to the scene of a two-vehicle crash with two fatalities.
The crash occurred around 8:00 p.m. on SR 60 and Nichols Road in Mulberry. According to the witnesses and evidence, a 2002 white Ford Mustang being driven northbound on Nichols Road by 42-year-old James Howard of Mulberry failed to stop at the Nichols Road and SR 60 West stop sign. Howard, who was driving at a high rate of speed, traveled across the eastbound lanes and into the westbound inside lane where he collided with a 2021 red Jeep Gladiator driven by 46-year-old Marjorie Goicoechea of Brandon.
Mr. Howard and his passenger, 54-year-old Sergio Ramirez of Mulberry, were not wearing their seatbelts and were ejected from the vehicle. Ms. Goicoechea’s Jeep overturned and came to a stop on the northwest shoulder of the intersection at SR 60 and Old Highway 60.
Mr. Howard and Mr. Ramirez were transported to a local hospital where they died from their injuries.
Ms. Goicoechea was wearing her seatbelt, as well as her three passengers: 72-year-old Guillermina Guiterrez of Tampa, 20-year-old Joseph Goicoechea of Brandon, and 19-year-old Yani Nogueras of Riverview. All four were transported to a local hospital.
Ms. Goicoechea and Mr. Goicoechea were treated for minor injuries and released. Ms. Guiterrez and Ms. Nogueras are listed in stable condition and expected to recover.
SR 60 in that area was closed for approximately four and a half hours during the investigation, which is still on-going.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigated a single-vehicle crash in Lakeland on Sunday, November 21, 2021, involving the death of the driver, who was the lone occupant.
Around 7:50 a.m. the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a 911 call advising a white 2007 Bentley Continental went off of County Line Road between Ewell Road and Pipkin Road, and into the woods. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded and transported 54-year-old Freddy West of Mulberry to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
Evidence at the scene and witness statements indicate that the car was traveling north on County Line Road when it came to an extremely slow speed and began making contact with the guard rail on the east side of the roadway, striking the guard rail numerous times, and drifting into the wood line after the guard rail ended. The car came to final rest in the wood line with minimal damage. Deputies spoke with family members, who told them Mr. West has medical issues. No obvious signs of injury to Mr. West were observed.
A medical episode is believed to be the main contributing factor of the crash, and the investigation is ongoing.
The northbound lanes of County Line Road were closed between Ewell Road and Pipkin Road for approximately 4.5 hours
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigated a single-vehicle crash in Lakeland on Saturday, November 20, 2021, involving the death of the driver and injuries to the lone passenger.
Around 10:20 a.m. the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a call reporting a blue Ford Explorer with extensive damage and obvious injuries on US Highway 92 approximately 1/4 mile east of Old Dixie Highway in Lakeland.
Tire tracks that matched the tread of the SUV were found on the north shoulder of the roadway prior to the crash location, suggesting that it briefly left the roadway with two tires and then re-entered the outside travel lane of US 92. Based on roadway evidence, it re-entered the roadway and continued westbound, overturning several times before coming to a final rest on the north shoulder of US 92, just west of McCampbell Road.
The driver, 52-year-old Patricia Simmons of Lakeland, was partially ejected and deceased on-scene.
Her son, 23-year-old Jeremiah Simmons, was a rear seat passenger and was transported to a local hospital. He told deputies he was asleep in the back and does not know how or why the crash occurred.
US Highway 92 westbound was closed for approximately 4 hours during the investigation.
On November 20, 2021 at approximately 3:25 am, Lake Wales Police responded to the area of North 1st Street and West Sessoms Avenue in reference to a male subject expressing suicidal thoughts. While investigating that incident, officers were guided to an apartment on West Sessoms Avenue to check on the wellbeing of the resident. Officers discovered a horrific scene at the residence. Inside the apartment, officers found a female beaten, battered, and lying on the floor unresponsive. Lake Wales Fire Department and Polk County Emergency Medical Services responded and were able to stabilize the victim. They transported her to a local hospital for treatment and evaluation of her serious injuries.
Lake Wales Police Detectives responded and completed a search warrant. The interior of the victim’s apartment was completely destroyed by violence with blood spattered throughout. The investigation revealed Charles Aaron Armstrong Jr. was responsible for the violent attack on the victim. Detective Klingler obtained an arrest warrant for Armstrong for Aggravated Battery with great bodily harm. Armstrong is from Lake Wales and was born March 26, 1982. Armstrong will be booked into the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Jail. Armstrong has a violent arrest record of past convictions to include Aggravated Battery, Armed Robbery and Attempted Murder. Armstrong was most recently arrested in February of this year for Throwing a Deadly Missile into an Occupied Vehicle. This is another example of a person who should be in prison instead of out in public endangering our citizens.
The victim is in critical condition. The Police Department is keeping the victim in their thoughts and prayers as she will have a long recovery. If anyone has any further information regarding this investigation, police are asking you to contact Detective Russell Klingler at 863-678-4223. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).
