On Thursday evening, February 18, 2021, a man driving the wrong way on U.S. 27, southwest of Frostproof, caused a head-on collision with another vehicle, causing fatal injuries to the other driver.
Upon the arrival of deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and members of Polk County Fire Rescue, 54-year-old Wendell Green of Babson Park was found deceased in his vehicle.
The crash occurred at about 8:50 PM, on U.S. 27 at Harvard Avenue.
According to the preliminary crash investigation, Mr. Green was driving a blue 2017 Toyota Corolla in the inside lane of northbound U.S. 27. Meanwhile, a white 2011 Ford F450 truck pulling a trailer was being driven by 75-year-old Everett Lucas of Niles, Michigan, going southbound in the northbound lanes.
Mr. Lucas told Traffic Homicide detectives that he had just turned onto the divided highway, and thought he was in the correct lane.
Neither of the drivers were wearing their seat belt at the time of the crash, but Mr. Lucas was not injured.
The crash, which remains under investigation, caused both directions of U.S. 27 to be closed for approximately four hours.
ROAD ALERT: SR 542 (Dundee Road) from Buckeye Loop Road to east of US 27: Construction project: Traffic on Dundee Road (SR 542) has shifted slightly south from Overlook Drive to Cypresswood. With the shift in place, motorists will be crossing the construction zone when entering and exiting side streets and driveways on the north side of the roadway. The northbound right turn lane from US 27 to eastbound Dundee Road will be closed for four weeks beginning, February 20. The driveway from US 27 to Hardees will be closed temporarily. The driveway from US 27 to Dundee Ridge Plaza will remain open, with access to Hardees available through the Dundee Ridge Plaza parking lot. This project includes widening Dundee Road from two to four lanes, constructing an enclosed drainage system, installing a new signal at Overlook Drive and closing the Overlook Drive merge, upgrading existing signal equipment, adding sidewalk, bike lanes and street lighting, and making utility improvements for the City of Winter Haven and Town of Dundee. The contractor is Jr. Davis Construction Company. Expected completion is summer 2023. For more information visit the project website at www.swflroads.com/sr542/buckeyelooptous27
Stealing a bicycle by taking it apart because it’s locked up? That’s somebody’s ride! Yes, he’s covered up, but his walk, clothing and slides may jog someone’s memory. On 1-28-2021 around 10:38 p.m., the male went to a bike that was locked at The Mission (180 Central Ave E). The red Panther bike with a silver chain was secured, but he removed the front tire and took the bike. The bike has a damaged fabric seat and damaged front handlebars. If you know who this is, please contact Sgt. Hall at 863-291-5736.
HAINES CITY, FL – A 77-year-old Davenport woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 27 Monday morning.
Lois Mann was traveling north in a black 2018 Kia Miro on U.S. 27 before 9:30 a.m. As she approached the intersection of South Boulevard, she struck a grey 2011 Nissan Rogue driven by Julyana Gonzalez Santana.
Through the course of the investigation, it was learned that Gonzalez Santana, 20, had been traveling southbound on U.S. 27 when she entered the turn lane to make a left onto South Boulevard. As Gonzalez Santana made the turn, she traveled into the path of Mann’s vehicle and was struck.
The impact caused Gonzalez Santana’s vehicle to head in a northeast direction where it ultimately flipped. Mann’s vehicle traveled about 150 feet before coming to a rest in the northbound lanes of U.S. 27.
Mann was found unresponsive in her vehicle and transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center where she died of her injuries. Gonzalez Santana, who was alert following the crash, suffered a compound fracture to the left leg and was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. All northbound lanes of U.S. 27 were closed for about 30 minutes. U.S 27 was fully reopened about two hours later.
Both drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. Impairment did not appear to be a factor.
A Lake Wales man has been arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office following ten residential burglaries which occurred during funerals; the targeted homes were either owned by a recently deceased resident or by the relative(s) of a recently deceased person. 42-year-old Ronald Rose is now in the Polk County Jail with no bond, charged with: 2-counts of Armed Burglary (F1), 8-counts of Burglary of an Unoccupied Dwelling (F2), Grand Theft between $20,000 and $100,000 (F2), 8-counts of Grand Theft from a Dwelling (F3), 7-counts of Grand Theft of a Firearm (F3), and Petit Theft (M2).
“People who burglarize or steal are low, so victimizing people during a time when they are grieving the loss of a loved one…that’s lower than low. Someone who is willing to take advantage of people at a time like this has no compassion or consideration, and is a true menace to society.”- Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Rose has been charged for ten burglaries which occurred between October 1, 2020 through February 8, 2021, in the areas of Auburndale, Mulberry, Lakeland, and Haines City.
A detective investigating one of the burglaries discovered there were at least nine other burglaries that had also occurred while the victims were away at a funeral which had been publicly noted in obituaries.
Other similarities were that the burglaries occurred during the daytime, and the primary target for theft included jewelry, watches, silver, coins, and firearms. On Monday, February 15, 2021, Ronald Rose was arrested. During an interview with a detective, he confessed to committing one of the Auburndale burglaries.
The car Rose used for the recent Auburndale burglary was a rental car- a 2020 Kia Optima. During a search of the Kia, property of evidentiary value was found within it that led to a search warrant being obtained for Rose’s home.
Detectives went to Rose’s home on Carver Street in Lake Wales and found a gray Caddillac CTS there which is registered to Rose. That Cadillac matched the vehicle description given by witnesses on a few of the burglaries.
During a search of Rose’s home, additional stolen property was recovered and tied back to the ten burglaries.
Because some of the property that was found in Rose’s home has not been reported stolen by the ten known burglary victims, detectives believe there are potentially more victims, possibly in other counties and jurisdictions. Detectives are reaching out to other agencies to share their findings. The investigation is ongoing.
If anyone believes they have been a victim of one of these burglaries, or they believe the residence of a deceased loved-one has been burglarized in this manner, you are asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200.
Ronald Rose’s prior criminal history consists of six felony charges and fifteen misdemeanor charges, including arrests for: Burglaries, Battery, Thefts, Criminal Mischief, Resisting, Drug Possessions, and numerous Violations of Probation.
HAINES CITY, FL – A Haines City man who brutally murdered three people, including a young girl inApril 2019, has pleaded guilty to the charges.
Ernst Cherizard, 40, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder on Feb. 11 in a 10th Judicial
Circuit Court. His sentencing is scheduled for March 8.
Before 7:30 p.m. on the evening of April 12, 2019, Cherizard fatally shot former girlfriend Eli Junia Normil, 23, her 6-year-old daughter Elizabelle Frenel and her aunt Nicole Guillume, 48 at the Citrus Ridge Apartment complex. Cherizard fled the area before turning himself in at the Haines City Police Department on April 14, 2019.
“It is my hope that this plea and coming sentencing will ultimately bring closure to the family of those needlessly killed at the hand of this monster,” Chief Jim Elensky said. “They are also victims in this tragedy. I commend our detectives who built a rock-solid case and thank the State Attorney’s Office for its hard work on this case and role in this plea. This killer should never again see the light of day.”
Lakeland Police Officers
caught a robbery suspect in the act at a store within their city limits, just
days after the same suspect robbed a store in unincorporated Lakeland (PCSO
jurisdiction).
According to his
affidavits, a citizen flagged down an LPD officer on Saturday, February 13,
2021, around 10:23 p.m., alerting the officer to the fact that a clerk was in
distress at the 7-Eleven store located at 851 South Florida Avenue. The Officer
immediately responded and found 42-year-old Antonio Welch, armed with a
knife, behind the counter and on top of the clerk. The Officer quickly
apprehended Welch, who was wearing a black hoodie, black shorts, a black mask,
and red shoes with white soles.
PCSO deputies who were
in the area at the time heard the suspect description (specifically, the red
shoes) and noted it matched the description of a suspect in a robbery that
occurred at the Kangaroo store located at 2100 West Memorial Blvd. on February
9, 2021.
Click here to read the PCSO Crime Stoppers bulletin.
Detectives from both
agencies interviewed Welch at LPD headquarters, and he admitted to committing
both robberies, and assaulting both clerks.
“The cooperation
and swift response by every agency in our county is what makes Polk one of the
safest places to live in Florida. We’re especially grateful to the citizen who
saw something and said something. This dangerous, violent felon was caught
before he could commit any more violent crimes, and hopefully he will go to
prison for a very long time.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Welch has been charged
by LPD with:
Armed robbery (F1)
False imprisonment (F3)
Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon (F2)
Possession of cocaine (F3)
Possession of paraphernalia (M1)
Welch has been charged
by PCSO with:
Armed robbery (FC)
Armed burglary with assault (FC)
Welch’s criminal history includes previous
arrests for burglary with battery, larceny, brawling/disorderly conduct, sale
of cocaine, trespassing, fraud, VOP, and failure to appear.
Around 7:40 p.m., PCSO was notified of a two-vehicle crash
on Cypress Gardens Blvd. just west of Carlton Arms Blvd. in Winter Haven,
during which a pedestrian was struck.
63-year-old Robert Kupstas of Lake Wales, the driver of a
blue Toyota Sienna, was stopped in the eastbound lane of CGB when it was struck
by a 2007 white Lincoln sedan being driven eastbound by 24-year-old Darian
Jessie of Winter Haven. It is unknown why the Toyota was stopped in the first
place. After that collision, both drivers got out of their vehicles to assess
the damage. As Kupstas stood in the middle of the lane looking at both
vehicles, he was struck by a 2014 gray Nissan Rogue being driven eastbound by
27-year-old Candice Straughn of Winter Haven. Jessie was not at the scene at
that time – he had exited his Lincoln and walked to a nearby store to call law
enforcement about the first crash.
Kupstas was taken to LRHMC where he succumbed to his
injuries. The roadway was closed for approximately four hours during the
investigation, which is ongoing. A photo from the scene is attached.
Around 1:35 p.m., the PCSO ECC received 911 calls about a
single-vehicle crash on CR 540-A East, just east of Lakeland Highlands Road in
Lakeland, involving a 2003 red Toyota Tundra pickup truck that was pulling a
dual-axle flatbed utility trailer.
According to the evidence and witness statements, 63-year-old
Michael Krause of Lakeland was pulling the trailer loaded with sod eastbound on
CR 540-A when the trailer began to swing violently from side to side, pulling
the truck sideways. The truck flipped onto the driver’s side, partially
ejecting and significantly injuring a back seat passenger, Krause’s grandson,
8-year-old Tripp Butler.
The other occupants of the truck – Krause’s wife,
63-year-old Loretta, and his other grandson, 13-year-old Patrick Boelens, all
of Lakeland – were not seriously injured. No other vehicles were involved. The
roadway was closed for approximately four hours during the investigation, which
is ongoing.
Tripp Butler was taken to LRHMC, and then later
flown to Tampa General Hospital. He succumbed to his injuries late last evening.
He attended Highlands Grove Elementary School.
