On 11/11/2021 at approximately 11:00pm, Bartow Police Officers responded to the area of State Road 60 East and Flamingo Drive in reference to a single vehicle traffic crash with serious injuries. The following was determined during the preliminary investigation: a 2011 Honda Civic was traveling west on State Road 60 approaching the intersection at Flamingo Drive. For unknown reasons, the vehicle struck the center raised median and lost control. The vehicle ended up traveling off the south side of the roadway, crossing the opposite lanes of traffic, and struck a tree. The vehicle overturned and came to rest on its roof.
The driver sustained serious injuries, a rear passenger sustained injury and the front passenger succumbed to injuries and was pronounced deceased at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. All of the passengers were identified, however, their names will not be released pending notified of next of kin.
Woman who threatened PCSO Sergeant had violent criminal history
The woman who threatened a Polk County Sheriff’s Office patrol sergeant yesterday, November 11, and who was shot and killed as she advanced at the sergeant with a shovel, was 24-year-old Jessiram Hweih Rivera of Winter Haven. Rivera had an extensive arrest criminal history, including violent felonies, and including a previous battery on a law enforcement officer.
Rivera’s criminal history includes: 12/19/2013; Osceola County SO; Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (F) 11/03/2016; Osceola County SO; Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon (F) 12/04/2017; Kissimmee PD; Battery on Law Enforcement Officer (F) Guilty/Convicted 12/04/2017; Kissimmee PD; Criminal Mischief (M) 12/04/2017; Kissimmee PD; Resisting with Violence (F) 02/25/2018; Orange County SO; Possession of Cocaine (F) Guilty/Convicted 9/11/2018; Columbus PD (Nebraska); Fugitive From Justice 09/27/2018; Osceola County SO; VOP 11/02/2018; Osceola County SO; Warrant Arrest Other Jurisdiction 11/7/2018; Orange County SO; Failure to Appear in Court (F) 11/7/2018; Orange County SO; Conditional Release Violation 4/16/2019; WHPD; Warrant Arrest Other Jurisdiction (F) 4/18/2019; Orange County SO; Violation of Probation/Parole (F) 5/26/2020; PCSO; Possession of Methamphetamine (F) 5/26/2020; PCSO; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M) 11/3/2020; PCSO; Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (F)
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that occurred Thursday afternoon, November 11, 2021, at approximately 3:45 p.m. in Wahneta, in unincorporated Polk County, in which 24-year-old Jessiram Hweih Rivera of Winter Haven attacked a deputy (sergeant) with a shovel.
Deputies were called to the area regarding a suspicious woman who was walking in and out of moving traffic on Rifle Range Road near Noles Lane in Wahneta.
Patrol Sergeant Sean Speakman, 46, arrived in the area at approximately 3:26 p.m. He located Rivera just south of Redemption Baptist Church on the west side of Rifle Range Road and attempted to speak with her. She was in an obvious state of agitation and she was holding a shovel. As Sergeant Speakman was talking with the woman on a private dirt driveway, she raised the shovel, pointing it towards the Sergeant and began advancing towards him.
The Sergeant gave her verbal commands to stop and put the shovel down multiple times and began backing away. She did not put the shovel down, and continued to advance towards the Sergeant, threatening him with the shovel. The Sergeant fired four shots, striking the woman.
Sergeant Speakman radioed that shots had been fired and began life-saving measures, including CPR, and continued until Polk County Fire Rescue arrived. Polk County Fire/EMS took over life-saving efforts. Rivera was transported to a local hospital, where she was declared deceased.
Sergeant Sean Speakman, 46, was hired by the PCSO in 1998 and began working in Information Technologies. He entered the training academy and became a deputy Sheriff in 2005. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2018. He is a patrol sergeant working in the Southeast District.
Standard protocol for all deputy-involved shootings include four independent investigations: the PCSO Homicide Unit is conducting a death investigation, PCSO Administrative Investigations is conducting an administrative inquiry, the State Attorney’s Office responded to the scene and will conduct a separate investigation, and the 10th District Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an investigation to determine the cause and manner of death. Per agency protocol the member involved will be on administrative leave with pay during the initial phase of the investigation.
Deputy-involved Shooting in Polk County: Woman Attacked Polk County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant with a Shovel
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that occurred Thursday afternoon at approximately 3:45 p.m. in Wahneta, in unincorporated Polk County, in which a woman attacked a deputy (sergeant) with a shovel.
Deputies were called to the area regarding a suspicious woman who was walking in and out of moving traffic on Rifle Range Road near Noles Lane in Wahneta.
Sergeant Sean Speakman arrived in the area at approximately 3:26 p.m. He located the woman just south of Redemption Baptist Church on the west side of Rifle Range Road and attempted to speak with her. She was in an obvious state of agitation and she was holding a shovel. As the Sergeant was speaking with the woman on a private dirt driveway, she raised the shovel, pointing it towards the Sergeant and began advancing towards the Sergeant.
The Sergeant gave her verbal commands to stop and put the shovel down multiple times and began backing away. She did not put the shovel down, and continued to advance towards the Sergeant, threatening him with the shovel. The Sergeant fired four shots, striking the woman.
Sergeant Speakman radioed that shots had been fired and began life-saving measures, including CPR, and continued until Polk County Fire Rescue arrived. Polk County Fire/EMS took over life-saving efforts. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was declared deceased.
Sergeant Sean Speakman, 46, was hired by the PCSO in 1998 and began working in Information Technologies. He entered the training academy and became a deputy Sheriff in 2005. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2018. He is a patrol sergeant working in the NE District.
Detectives have tentatively identified the woman. Her identification will be released tomorrow, after complete next of kin notification has been made.
Standard protocol for all deputy-involved shootings include four independent investigations: the PCSO Homicide Unit is conducting a death investigation, PCSO Administrative Investigations is conducting an administrative inquiry, the State Attorney’s Office responded to the scene and will conduct a separate investigation, and the 10th District Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an investigation to determine the cause and manner of death. Per agency protocol the member involved will be on administrative leave with pay during the initial phase of the investigation.
Lake Wales man killed in single-vehicle crash; PCSO investigating
The Traffic Homicide Unit from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate a fatal single-vehicle crash which occurred near Lake Wales Wednesday morning, November 10, 2021.
Deputies, along with Polk County Fire Rescue members, were dispatched at about 11:17 AM, to the scene on US 27 South, near the intersection with Alturas Babson Park Cutoff Road.
58-year old Brett Lang of Lake Wales was transported from the scene via helicopter to a hospital, but was pronounced deceased there.
Mr. Lang was the driver of a gray 2003 Ford Ranger, and was the only person involved in the crash.
Based on evidence and witness statements, detectives determined that Mr. Lang’s Ford was travelling south on US 27, when the truck drifted off of the west side of the roadway and struck a palm tree and utility pole.
Mr. Lang was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Aside from a brief closure of a turn lane on southbound US 27, the roadway remained open during the presence of emergency personnel.
Polk County Sheriff’s
detectives have charged a Winter Haven man with felony petit theft after his
Polk County retail theft crime spree at different Lowes stores.
Charles Levin, DOB
8/13/59, of Avenue F SE in Winter Haven, has an extensive criminal history, including 34 previous
felonies, 47 previous misdemeanors, and 5 trips to state prison. During the
months of August and October 2021, Levin committed retail theft at two
different Lowes stores in the Auburndale and Winter Haven areas.
On August 29, 2021,
Levin loaded a shopping cart with over $550.00 worth of merchandise at the
Winter Haven Lowes and attempted to leave without paying. He was stopped by
Asset Protection. He left the store in a white SUV.
On October 5, 2021, he
was again seen by Asset Protection loading $428.00 worth of stolen power tools
in a white Toyota Highlander SUV. He fled the parking lot with the merchandise.
On October 21, 2021,
Asset Protection received a report of a stolen trailer from the Auburndale
store. They reviewed video surveillance and recognized Levin. He attached the
stolen trailer to a white Toyota Highlander. The trailer was worth $969.00. He
then used the trailer to steal a riding lawn mower from in front of the store –
the value of the mower is $2,000.00.
On October 29, 2021,
Levin was arrested by the Winter Haven Police Department after he was caught
attempting to steal a generator and a rug from the Winter Haven Lowes. He
bonded out the next day.
Lowes Asset Protection
contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Organized Retail Crime Unit and an
investigation ensued. PCSO detectives obtained a warrant for Levin’s arrest,
and he was taken into custody on Tuesday evening, November 9, 2021. Levin has
three previous convictions for theft, in 1990, 1995, and 2001. He has been
charged with three counts felony petit theft, 3rd or subsequent offense (F3).
“This suspect is
the prime example of why our agency has an Organized Retail Crime Unit. We work
hand-in-hand with asset protection and loss prevention personnel at stores all
over the county – they are the eyes and ears in the stores, giving us the
information we need to make cases against organized retail crime. Retail theft
affects everyone – it drives up costs for retailers and consumers.”
– Grady Judd, Sheriff
Culpepper Cardiac Foundation Delivers Food to Station 19 in Wahneta
by James Coulter
The firefighters at Station 19 in Wahneta received a welcome food donation from a local non-profit organization during its monthly delivery.
Melanie Brown Culpepper and other volunteers from the Culpepper Cardiac Foundation delivered several food items to the fire department, including homemade cookies, brownies, yeast rolls, sports drinks, cubed steak, and a gallon of ice cream.
Captain Joey Harrison greatly appreciated the delivery. Their station does not usually receive many donations from residents, so receiving a free meal was a welcome surprise, he said.
“Here at our station, we don’t get a whole lot,” he said. “Some of our [other] stations are next to Publix, and they get stuff quite a bit. For us, we like it. We enjoy it. We don’t normally have people send things to us.”
Captain Harrison has been working at the station for 18 years. As someone who likes to get up and do things rather than sit behind a desk all day, he loves his job, and he especially loves having his hard work recognized through kind gestures such asthis delivery.
“I enjoy my job. It is a good job,” he said. “It has been beneficial in a lot of ways, especially with the economy. We always get busier and work longer, which is good. This is one of the only jobs I can stay at for 18 years…so this job fit me real good.”
Jessica Ray, an engineer and paramedic, has been working with the county for seven years. This is the first time in a long time that someone has delivered a donation for them. Small gestures such as this show how much they are appreciated, she said.
“We sometimes get forgotten out here,” she said. “This is the first time we ever had anyone come out and donate anything to us. It means a lot for us to be appreciated.”
For the past year, Melanie Brown Culpepper and her organization have been making food deliveries to fire stations across the county on the first Friday of every month. So far, she has delivered donations to stations in Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Haines City, and Bartow. She plans on hosting a major event in January to provide food to all firefighters and EMS workers.
She learned about Station 19 in Wahneta after meeting Captain Harrison at a benefit golf tournament last month that she helped supply food through Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation and where she worked one of the holes supported by Jack Daniel’s (whom she also works for). She hopes to be able to make deliveries to each fire station in the county.
“I will land every one of them,” Melanie said.
Melanie started her organization, Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, in honor of her late fiancée, who passed away following a cardiac arrest, despite the best efforts of the paramedics who attended to him on that fateful day.
For the past year, she has hosted various fundraisers to raise proceeds for defibrillators to be installed throughout Winter Haven. So far, three have been installed at her own hair salon, Melanie’s Cutting Edge, at Old Man Frank’s, where her late fiancée worked as a security officer, and at Winter Haven Boxing.
Winter Haven, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Curtis Champion Green, DOB: 04/09/1956, charging him with Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault, and False Imprisonment. The charges stem from an incident on November 3rd, 2021 near an address on Bomber Road in Winter Haven. Green allegedly beat a woman and use a hose to try to strangle her.
This isn’t the first brush with the law for Green. In May of 1998 Green was convicted for First-Degree Murder and was sentenced to death. However, Green appealed the ruling and got his conviction reduced to Second-Degree Murder and his death sentence vacated. In that case Green and an accomplice, Barney Franklin, murdered a known prostitute Karen Kulick in 1988. Kulick’s body was found on Masterpiece Gardens Road and St. Helena Rd in Lake Wales, Florida, at approximately 3:30 a.m. on May 22, 1988. The only apparel on Kulick was a pair of shoes. Her body had been dragged from the side of the road and displayed in the middle of the intersection with her legs spread apart. Her body exhibited evidence of stab wounds and blunt trauma, but the cause of death was manual strangulation. Green served only 10 years for Kulicks murder being released from prison in 2008. Additional details on the 1988 murder and 1998 appeal can be found here: Curtis Champion GREEN, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Below is a long excerpt from the current Attempted Murder charges which took place on November 3rd, 2021 in Winter Haven.
On November 3, 2021, Deputy Bujnovsky responded to the area of Bomber Road in reference to a woman with extensive bruising. The reportee advised they observed a woman in a purple vehicle who had extensive bruising to the face. Deputy Bujnovsky canvassed the area and located the purple vehicle at REDACTED. At this residence, he made contact with Curtis Green and VICTIM. VICTIM was visibly injured and at first was reluctant to speak with law enforcement. Once separated from Green, VICTIM stated he tied her up with a garden hose two days ago and then struck her with a closed fist multiple times to the face, chest, and arms. VICTIM also had injuries to her hands.
I conducted a sworn recorded interview with VICTIM and she stated the following. VICTIM advised that Green and her were riding around together on Sunday 10/31/21 when they engaged in a verbal argument. During the argument, Green began to punch her with both closed fist repeatedly in the face, arms, head, and chest area. She told Green to stop and let her get out of the car. She said that Green told her she was not getting out of the car and stated “I will kill you bitch.” She stated that Green grabbed small piece of a hose and began to strangle her around her neck. VICTIM stated that at this point, she was unable to breathe and she was trying to get away. She was able to get the hose from around her neck and was able to get out of the car. Green got out of the car and hit her again at which point she fell to the ground. While on the ground, Green kicked her and stomped on her chest causing her to have difficulty breathing. She stated Green finally stopped hitting her and walked away. VICTIM stated she was in fear for her life during the entire altercation. She said she does not know why he attacked her except for he was on dope.
I observed VICTIM to have extensive bruising and swelling on both sides of her face, arms, legs, and chest. VICTIM had a large hematoma on her center chest. She had blood spots in both of her eyes. VICTIM also had bruising around her neck consistent with being strangled.
VICTIM was transported to the hospital via Polk County EMS to be treated for her injuries. EMS advised VICTIM potentially had facial fractures, and broken ribs. Her breathing was strained and she may have an injury to her lungs.
I conducted query of Green’s criminal history, which revealed the following.
Green was convicted of Battery in 1978, Aggravated Assault in 1980, Aggravated Battery in 1991, DV Battery in 1993, and Murder in 1998.
Through my investigation, I determined based on the victim’s visible injuries which were consistent with her sworn statement, I had probable cause to arrest Curtis Green for Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault, and False Imprisonment.
Green is currently being held in Polk County Jail.
LAKELAND, FL (November 7, 2021) – On Sunday, November 7, 2021, shortly after 1:10 am, uniform patrol officers responded to the 100 block of Kentucky Avenue in reference to a shooting. On scene, officers located a male victim with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers immediately began securing the location and rendering aid until emergency medical responders from Lakeland Fire Department and Polk County Fire Rescue arrived. The victim was transported to Lakeland Regional Hospital, where he succumbed to injuries a short time later. Based on witness statements and evidence gathered at the scene, the 31-year-old victim and 30-year-old Sharainnia Gornail had just left the Hookah Palace when they began engaging in a physical confrontation near the intersection of Kentucky Avenue and Main Street. Both the victim and Gornail were striking each other multiple times. Gornail was then observed walking away from the victim and entering a nearby vehicle to retrieve a firearm. She then approached the victim again, at which time she shot him multiple times. Gornail then left the scene in a vehicle driven by a friend. Officers were notified a short time later by medical staff at the ER 24/7 on South Florida Avenue that Gornail was at the facility seeking treatment for injuries sustained in the physical altercation. While receiving treatment, she admitted being involved in a shooting. After receiving treatment, both Gornail and a witness who had driven her to the location were transported to the police station to interview with detectives. When speaking with investigators, Gornail admitted to having fought with the victim and subsequently shot him after she was punched in the face. She stated she shot the victim in self-defense; however, witness statements and evidence gathered at this time show that Gornail acted after there was no longer an active threat to her safety. Based on the evidence gathered at the scene, witness interviews, and consultation with the State Attorney’s Office, Sharainnia Gornail was arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder. Detectives are continuing to follow up on leads as this is still very early in the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Cory Lawson at 863.834.6900 or [email protected].
A two-vehicle crash near Lake Wales Friday morning, November 5, 2021, resulted in the death of one, with two others being sent to the hospital.
The crash occurred at around 8:18 AM, on Masterpiece Road near the intersection of Timberlane Road, in unincorporated Lake Wales. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the crash scene.
25-year old Candice Franz of Lake Wales, the driver of a red 2010 Nissan Versa, was transported to a hospital, but passed away from her injuries.
A 7-month old baby girl who was riding in Franz’s car did not appear to be injured, but she was taken to a Tampa hospital to be evaluated.
The other driver, 47-year old Jeff Corey, was treated and released from the hospital. He was the driver of a black Ford Mustang.
Based on evidence and statements, the preliminary investigation shows that Franz’s Nissan was travelling north on Masterpiece Road, while Corey’s Ford was southbound.
The Nissan appears to have hydroplaned over rainwater on the road, and spun into the path of the Ford.
It was determined that the child was properly restrained in a child car seat, and Mr. Corey was wearing a seatbelt, but Ms. Franz was not wearing one.
Masterpiece Road was closed for about three-and-a-half hours during the on-scene portion of the investigation, but the case remains open.
