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UPDATE: Pickup Truck Rear-ends School Bus on Highway 60

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UPDATE: Pickup Truck Rear-ends School Bus on Highway 60

Pickup Truck Rear-ends School Bus on Highway 60

On February 4, 2021 at approximately 4:37 PM, officers of the Lake Wales Police Department responded to State Road 60 and Central Avenue in reference to a vehicle crash. Upon arrival, officers found a 2001 Ford F250 had rear-ended a 2019 Lake Wales Charter School Bluebird school bus.  The school bus was stopped for the railroad tracks when this crash took place.  Both vehicles were in the outside westbound lane.  West bound traffic was shut down until 7:05 PM due to the crash.

Jessie Griffin, age 51 of Lake Wales, was the driver of the truck.  Marianne Hernandez, age 38 of Lake Wales, was the driver of the bus.  Ten Bok Academy students from both campuses were on the bus.  No one in the bus sustained any injuries.  Most of the students were released to their parents on scene.  Mr. Griffin was transported to Advent Health Lake Wales with non-life threatening injuries. 

Customer Leaves Cell Phone on Counter at Circle K and Next Customer Takes It

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Customer Leaves Cell Phone on Counter at Circle K and Next Customer Takes It

Winter Haven Police Department

Doing The Right Thing Isn’t Hard
When a customer before you leaves an item behind, how about helping out and letting them know instead of taking it as your own?
Our victim was at the Circle K on 1st St S Thursday around 10:22 p.m. He accidentally left his cell phone and walked out. The man in the video paid for his items and scooped up the phone.
When the victim realized he didn’t have the phone, the man in the video had already left the property.
Recognize him? Contact Sgt. Hall at 863-291-5736.

Winter Haven Home Deemed Total Loss After Fire

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Winter Haven Home Deemed Total Loss After Fire

A Winter Haven home is deemed a total loss after a late-afternoon fire quickly spread. There were no injuries and nobody was inside of the home at the time of the fire.

Yesterday (Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021) at approximately 4:16 p.m., a 9-1-1 call was received from a neighbor along Mandolin Blvd. in Winter Haven. The caller described a heavy column of black smoke coming from the residence at 4377 Mandolin Blvd. Another caller described flames shooting from the roof towards the back of the home.

When Winter Haven Fire crews arrived on scene, they found heavy smokes and flames with the roof on the back of the home starting to cave in. Along with fire crews from Polk County Fire, they worked for close to an hour to minimize the spread and extinguish the flames. No other homes were damaged. 

The residents, who were not at home at the time of the fire, have made arrangements to stay elsewhere for the time being. The home is considered a total loss. The investigation into what caused the fire is ongoing however at this time it does not seem suspicious.

***UPDATE TO POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVESTIGATION OF FRAUD AGAINST POLK CARES (COVID 19 ASSISTANCE)*

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***UPDATE TO POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVESTIGATION OF FRAUD AGAINST POLK CARES (COVID 19 ASSISTANCE)*

***UPDATE TO POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVESTIGATION OF FRAUD AGAINST POLK CARES (COVID 19 ASSISTANCE)***

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office made another arrest Wednesday, February 3, 2021, the twelfth person total, in the ongoing investigation of fraudulent activity involving theft from Polk Cares, the Covid-19 assistance program funded by the Federal CARES Act. The program was created to assist with rent, utilities, and other housing expenses, for people who became unemployed or lost hours due to Covid-19.

The most recent person to be arrested is Lashunna Morris, 37, of Lake Wales. She turned herself in at the Central Booking facility in Bartow, where she was charged with Scheme to Defraud(F3), Grand Theft(F3), and Criminal Use of ID(F3).

This investigation remains open, with more arrest possible.

During a news conference on January 29th, Sheriff Grady Judd said many more suspicious applications were being looked at, and urged anyone else who obtained Polk Cares funds through criminal means to return the money and make it better for themselves.

UPDATE: Arrest Made in Early Morning Shooting, Now Homicide Investigation

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UPDATE: Arrest Made in Early Morning Shooting, Now Homicide Investigation

LAKELAND, FL (February 2, 2021) – On Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at approximately 6:30 am, Lakeland Police were called to investigate a shooting that took place near the 1500 block of Fairbanks Street. Upon arrival, they found an adult male with gunshot wounds. He was transported to Lakeland Regional Health for treatment, but despite the best efforts of medical professionals, the 36-year-old victim succumbed to his injuries a short time later at the hospital.

According to a witness statement, just prior to the shooting, Deandrae Gary and the victim were inside the home, engaged in a verbal argument over money and unpaid bills. A witness, who was at the residence just prior to the shooting, exited the house and was walking toward a vehicle parked in the front yard when he heard multiple gunshots from inside the home. After running back inside the house, the witness found the victim lying on the floor with gunshot wounds. A semi-automatic handgun was also found at the scene. 

After conducting interviews and reviewing evidence at the scene, detectives arrested 30-year-old Deandrae Leon Gary, charging him with First Degree Murder. He was transported to the Polk County Jail without incident.  

This remains an open investigation. No other details will be released at this time to protect the integrity of the investigation. Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact Detective Ted Sealey at 863.834.5991 or [email protected]. 

The name of the victim is being withheld in accordance with Marsy’s Law.

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Train Vs Firefighter Crash in Fort Meade

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Train Vs Firefighter Crash in Fort Meade

A volunteer firefighter from Ft Meade was struck by a CSX train on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at about 12:45PM, in the area of 14th Street NW, near Hwy 17 North. The firefighter was transported to the hospital with a broken leg.

Firefighters were in the process of stopping the spread of a grass fire when a CSX train was approaching the area. The firefighter saw that the door was open on one of their trucks, so he ran over to shut the door of the truck, but the train arrived at about the same time he made it to the truck.

PCSO is still investigating the crash. That is all of the information we have available at this time.

Lakeland Police Are Investigating a Shooting Near 1500 Block of Fairbanks Street

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Lakeland Police Are Investigating a Shooting Near 1500 Block of Fairbanks Street

SHOOTING INVESTIGATION

LAKELAND, FL (February 2, 2021) – Lakeland Police are currently investigating a shooting that took place near the 1500 block of Fairbanks Street. Officers were dispatched to the location around 6:30 am this morning, and upon arrival, they found an adult male had been shot. He was transported to Lakeland Regional Health with serious injuries. Detectives have detained a person related to the shooting.

No additional details are available at this time. An update will be provided as soon as possible.

ARREST MADE IN FELONY BATTERY OF CONVENIENCE STORE EMPLOYEE

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ARREST MADE IN FELONY BATTERY OF CONVENIENCE STORE EMPLOYEE

LAKELAND, FL (February 1, 2021) – Lakeland Police have made an arrest in the felony battery of a convenience store employee that took place on Friday, January 29, 2021. Mandel Baker, age 35, has been charged with Felony Battery with Great Bodily Harm.  

On Friday, January 29, 2021, at approximately 5:36 p.m., officers were called to the Food Mart/Mobil Gas Station, located at 1615 West Memorial Boulevard. Inside they found an adult male motionless on the floor with a laceration to the head. According to a witness, a man, later identified as Baker, had been in the store just prior asking for cigarettes. Baker had asked the store clerk to give him cigarettes for payment at a later date. The clerk denied Baker’s request. Baker then approached another store employee with the same request, and he was denied again. Baker then ran toward the employee punching him in the face. The victim, age 58, fell back and hit his head on the hard floor surface, sustaining critical life-threatening injuries. He was transported to Lakeland Regional Health for treatment. At last update, the victim remains in critical condition. 

Using surveillance footage and citizen tips submitted through Crime Stoppers Florida, Baker was identified and arrested on Saturday, January 30, 2021. Baker’s booking information can be found at https://www.polksheriff.org/inmate-profile/2103567

If you have additional information related to this case, please contact Detective Biko Duhaney at [email protected] or (863) 834-5918. Or if you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida:

* Call 1-800-226 TIPS (8477)

* From your cell phone, dial **TIPS

* Or visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,”

* Or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.

You will always remain anonymous when you send a tip through Crime Stoppers, and you are eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.

The name of victim is being withheld in accordance with Marsy’s Law. 

Polk County Schools Employee Arrested for DUI Following a Single-Vehicle Crash

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Polk County Schools Employee Arrested for DUI Following a Single-Vehicle Crash

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested an employee of the Polk County School Board on Sunday afternoon, January 31, 2021, after she was involved in a single-vehicle crash near Lake Wales.

Amy Steele, 45, of Lake Wales, crashed a black 2012 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck into a barbed wire fence at 5571 Lake Mabel Loop Road at around 4:03 PM. She was not injured.

Ms. Steele is currently employed by the Polk County School Board in the Curriculum and Instruction Department as a Social Science Coach.

“Educators need to conduct themselves in a manner which sets a good example to children. That’s the expectation we have for our firefighters, people in the medical field, politicians, clergy, and of course, law enforcement. Thankfully, this was not a serious crash, but the issue of driving while impaired is still a very serious problem.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

According to the arrest affidavit, the deputy who responded to the crash, reported that she smelled the odor of alcoholic beverage coming from Ms. Steele, whose eyes looked bloodshot and watery.

A Field Sobriety Test resulted with the determination that Ms. Steele was impaired, and had been driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. She was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail, where she was charged with Driving Under the Influence with Property Damage (M1).

Ms. Steele provided two breath samples, .183 and .178 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. A person is in violation if their breath sample results in 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.

Please direct any inquiries regarding Amy Steele’s employment to the Polk County School Board.

Eleventh Suspect Arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Covid-19 Benefits Fraud Investigation

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Eleventh Suspect Arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Covid-19 Benefits Fraud Investigation

Eleventh suspect arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Covid-19 Benefits fraud investigation

Following Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd’s news conference on Friday, January 29, 2021, which announced the arrest of ten suspects who defrauded the Polk Cares program to financially assist those who have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, an eleventh suspect turned himself in for also trying to defraud the program.

Saget Genoret, 33, of Lakeland, applied for the $2,000 benefit by submitting a fraudulent letter from his employer, Publix, that indicated his hours were cut due to the pandemic. Genoret received a $2,000 check from the Polk Cares program.

Saget Genoret was arrested and charged on Friday with Scheme to Defraud(F3), Grand Theft(F3), and Criminal Use of Personal ID(F3).

“Fraud detectives have other suspects on their radar. There are more applications that were submitted and are being investigated. It would behoove anyone who attempted to rip off this program to do as Saget Genoret did, and to turn yourself in.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.

The Polk Cares program received funding from the Federal CARES Act, and was created to provide financial assistance toward rent, utilities, or other housing expenses, to anyone in the county who has lost their job or had their hours reduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Click here for original release.

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