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Law Enforcement Supports Girls’ Basketball Team With Hoops And Heroes

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Law Enforcement Supports Girls’ Basketball Team With Hoops And Heroes

Law Enforcement Supports Girls’ Basketball Team With Hoops And Heroes

by James Coulter

Ivan Navarro, Lieutenant for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, often played streetball growing up in New York. He never played in any organized sports in college, but he loves to play basketball on occasion.

Last Friday evening, while he did not take to the courts to drop some shots, he did drop some beats while his fellow officers played hoops with others in an effort to raise money for Bolts, the girls’ basketball team at Ridge Community High School.

Navarro has been with PCSO for 22 years. He and his fellow officers were asked to compete in the Hoops and Heroes sports tournament on Friday, and he was more than happy to join them. He loved seeing people turnout to watch his colleauges play against other law enforcement in the county.

“It was great and exhilarating,” he said. “It was refreshing to have all of these law enforcement agencies together in one place and time to have fun and being jovial.”

Being able to see other law enforcement officers come together to have fun playing basketball while raising money for a good cause proved to be quite the evening for him. There’s nothing he loves more than to engage in such camraderie among fellow officers, he said.

“The togetherness, the teamwork between all elements from the community, from the school board, all people that made it possible, it was a great undertaking and a short amount of time and everyone did their part to make this happen,” he said.

Ridge Community High School hosted the Hoops and Heroes basketball tournament to raise funds for their girls’ basketball team, the Bolts. The tournament was participated in by local law enforcement from across the county, including PCSO and the Winter Haven Police Department.

The event that evening also included other family-fun activities including face painting, bounce houses, and toy raffles.

Donations for the event went directly to the Bolts for their 2020-2021 season. The team was able to reach the state playoffs for the very first-time last season, their event program stated.

More than simply being a fundraiser for the girls’ basketball team, Hoops and Heroes, true to its name, provided an opportunity to support local law enforcement by allowing officers to come together and play basketball.

“This is a one-day tournament to help support local law enforcement and play with local law enforcement agencies,” said Nikki King, Head Coach at Ridge Community High School. “We want to bridge the gap and bring the community together.”

Being able to see so much support, both from the participating law enforcement agency and the local community, was more than overwhelming, with the turnout more than exceeding her expectations, she said.

“Just seeing the fellas compete, the officers and deputies compete against each other and have fun, it is fun to see them outside of their uniforms and compete for a trophy,” she said. “I am happy and excited for the future. This is the first one, and we are looking forward to another one next year.”

Art Alley Celebrates Grand Opening In Haines City With Food Trucks And Art

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Art Alley Celebrates Grand Opening In Haines City With Food Trucks And Art

Art Alley Celebrates Grand Opening In Haines City With Food Trucks And Art

by James Coulter

Flags of many color hang fluttering from above. Two pink flamingos stand together facing a sunset in a mural sketched on a brick wall. Several other chalk drawings and messages are scrawled right next to it.

These are some of the sights you can see when you take a stroll in Downtown Haines City and turn a corner into an alleyway along Main Street. Of course, you’ll most likely be lured there by the smell of food wafting from the food trucks parked nearby.

Located at 501 E Main Street in Downtown Haines City, directly behind Citrus Growers Commerce Bank, “Art Alley” is the city’s newest initiative to draw in residents downtown with art and food trucks.

This little space, tucked away in the alley and lot behind the bank, serves as a vibrant outdoor venue for local artists to showcase their craft through murals and other art installations.

Every three to four months, Art Alley showcases a different art installation and theme. When the venue was opened earlier this year, it featured umbrellas hanging from clotheslines above the alley, along with a statue of a red man with an umbrella sitting on a nearby bench.

Their current art installation includes flags hanging from above and mural of a Florida Sunset with pink flamingos. Their next installation will feature ribbons and children’s flags.

From Thursday to Sunday, different food trucks park from lunch to the late evening serving various food offerings, ranging from Buffalo Chicken Fries from the Purple People Eatery to ArtisanPopsicles from Lula Paleta.

Art Alley celebrated its grand opening last Friday evening with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Northeast Polk Chamber of Commerce.

Janes Addams Water, Project Manager for the Haines City’s Community Redevelopment Agency, mentioned how she wanted the space to aid in the city’s historic revitalization and draw people from all over the city and county.

“We are planning to move forward for this to be an arts destination,” Waters said. “The idea is to take a little pocket within the city that goes unnoticed and turn it into something vibrant that people can come to and enjoy.”

Waters was especially excited to see so many people of the local community gather together (while maintaining social distancing) to appreciate this new area, the art displayed within it, and the food served from the food trucks. She hopes that the area continues to grow in popularity and becomes a staple of the community.

She mentioned how she has already received phone calls from local residents expressing their love and interest in Art Alley. She even saw a family earlier that day taking group photographs there.

“I love to see the community excited about something new in their community, and they really are,” she said. “My expectation is to see it grow in popularity. I anticipate it seeing visitors from out of town for art shows or marketplace shows.”

Oscar Pineda and Ellie Abarado own the property where Art Alley now resides. When they were approached about the initiative, they were more than happy for it to move forward.

“This park is a benefit for the alley, it is a benefit for the whole community,” Pineda said. “This is something for our community, not only Haines City. We need it at this time, and that is why we back this project.”

Abarado considered the initiative a blessing for her local community, allowing them to come together to enjoy good art, music, and food. She wishes only the best for it.

“This project was good for us here,” she said. “Everybody here is a blessing, and this is a good thing for the community, for a beautiful city like Haines City and Polk County, because we welcome everyone from everywhere.”

Man Steals Over $1000 Worth Of Items From Staples, Including Keyboard He Stuffs Under Shirt

Staff Reporter
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Man Steals Over $1000 Worth Of Items From Staples, Including Keyboard He Stuffs Under Shirt

Release by Winter Haven Police Department

The incredible disappearing keyboard act!
If this guy isn’t a magician, well he should be. We know the video is choppy and not the clearest, but hopfully someone knows him.
He visited Staples (470 Citi Centre St.) and selects various items to include a keyboard. We see, or don’t see, the keyboard disappear down into his pants leg. We don’t make this stuff up! Look at the video.
He swiped other items as well and out the door he went. When all said and done, it’s reported he took more than $1,000 worth of items. When the buzzers went off at the door, the manager tried to stop him but made no attempt to stop and ran to a blue Acura SUV-style vehicle. He has a tattoo on each leg on the bottom portion of his calves.
He fancies flip flops and plaid! Recognize him? Call Detective Watts at 863-401-2256. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers a guranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a CASH reward.

Woman Arrested for Attempting to Sell A Stolen Ring

Staff Reporter
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Woman Arrested for Attempting to Sell A Stolen Ring

Release by Winter Haven Police Department:
A 47 year-old Lake Wales woman sits behind bars after she attempted to sell a stolen ring to the jewelry store where the ring was stolen from in a July burglary. Three others were sold to a Lake Wales jewelry store and found to be from the original burglary. 

On 9-28-2020, at approximately 10:30 a.m., Alice Lavern Henry (DOB 11-21-72, 302 Dr. ML King Jr Blvd., Lake Wales FL) went to Griner’s Jewelry, located at 195 Ave A NW in Winter Haven to sell a ring. She had called the store earlier asking if they would like to buy the Simon G. ring. The store clerk, knowing that there had been a burglary at the store in July where multiple Simon G. rings were stolen, was eager to see what Ms. Henry had to offer.
Striking up a casual conversation about the ring, the clerk asked where Henry obtained the ring. She said she had found it while treasure hunting with a metal detector on a beach in the panhandle. Upon inspection of the ring, there were no obvious signs of damage, sand or any indicators that would lead someone to believe the ring had been lost on the beach. The value of the ring – $1,059.  
Another clerk in the store called police while Henry was in the store. Once the officer and a detective arrived, Henry again repeated her story that she found the ring while using a metal detector on a beach in the panhandle. She claimed that her daughter, who lives in Panama City, had an emergency and she drove up to be with her. Along the way, Henry encountered a friend of hers who lives in Avon Park and guess what the friend had in the car yes, a metal detector. Henry decided that while tending to her daughter’s emergency, surely she can find some hidden treasures along the beach. (She didn’t locate her daughter at home so she went to the beach.) We won’t torture you any longer.
Henry left Griner’s without the money or the ring. 
Further investigation revealed that Henry had sold three other Simon G. rings (also found to belong to Griner’s) and a single earring (not belonging to Griner’s) on different September dates at Mayer’s Jewelry in Lake Wales. She had attempted to sell the fourth ring to Mayer’s on September 24, however they didn’t conduct the transaction and sent her on her way. Since there are only a few locations that have Simon G. jewelry, she learned that Griner’s was one and initiated the call.   A warrant for Henry’s arrest was obtained by Winter Haven detectives and on October 4, Henry was located at her residence and taken into custody without incident. She was interviewed by Winter Haven and Lake Wales detectives. When asked where she obtained the jewelry, she told them she found all of the jewelry on the ground by dumpsters in the apartment complex where she lives. The investigation continues into the original burglary.
Winter Haven Police charged Henry with one count of Grand Theft < $5,000 (F3) and one count of Dealing in Stolen Property F2). Lake Wales dropped charges at the jail for one count of Grand Theft < $5,000 (F3) and three counts of Dealing in Stolen Property (F2). 

Man Arrested After Multiple Polk County Law Enforcement Agencies Work Together To Stop Fleeing Suspect

Staff Reporter
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Man Arrested After Multiple Polk County Law Enforcement Agencies Work Together To Stop Fleeing Suspect

Release by Polk County Sheriff’s Office

Austin Westgate….come on down! You’re the next arrestee to be PCSO’s #CriminalOfTheDay!

25-year-old Austin did a thing this past weekend. A few bad things actually.

It all began when Lake Alfred PD officers notified the PCSO that Austin had just fled from them on a residential burglary. Austin ran off into a wooded area and deputies swooped in to assist (bringing with them K9 units, Drone units, and Aviation).

As everyone was RSVPing to Austin’s capture party, an LAPD officer reported that Austin was seen hopping into a gold-colored pickup truck.

A deputy spotted the Ford Ranger and attempted a traffic stop on it in the Lynchburg area. The truck stopped momentarily to let a woman out of the truck, and it sped off again.

Austin’s fleeing shenanigans continued into the Inwood area—he sideswiped a vehicle (fortunately, nobody was hurt) and took out two mailboxes.

Officers from Auburndale PD had placed stop-sticks out on the road, but Austin swerved to miss them. What he didn’t miss was a steel support cable that suddenly stopped the forward momentum of the truck. The rear of the truck went up, and the patrol car behind the truck wedged in nicely under the truck (the deputy was uninjured).

Austin’s getaway truck was finished, but Austin was not. He got out and ran as a K9 team pursued.

Suddenly, it struck Austin. Not that he was making things worse by fleeing from the popo. What struck him was two prongs from another deputy’s Taser that stopped him like….well, like a pickup truck that ran into steel cables. Austin was immediately handcuffed and his one-man mayhem show was done.

Prior to all of this, Austin had an outstanding Polk County warrant for….drumroll please…Fleeing to Elude Law Enforcement. He was served with that warrant, then he was charged with all of his new charges such as: Fleeing to Elude (The Sequel), Trafficking Methamphetamine (because he had about 24 grams of meth), Possession of Meth and Paraphernalia (see last parenthetical explanation), Resisting without Violence, and Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Property Damage (3 Counts). And then Lake Alf Popo dropped these charges on Austin too: Armed Burglary (because he originally had a gun on him), Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (because of the aforementioned gun), Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon (because of the pew-pews in the gun), and Possession of a Firearm with Altered Serial Number.

Multiple Polk Agencies Involved In Chase Of A Possible Burglary Suspect

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Multiple Polk Agencies Involved In Chase Of A Possible Burglary Suspect
Suspect Vehicle On Top Of Deputies Cruiser. (Photo Credit: N. Starling – 863 Crime Watch FB Group)

Lake Alfred, Florida – The Lake Alfred Police Department, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and others agencies have all been seen at a crash of a possible burglary suspect and Polk County Sheriff’s Office cruiser.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office a burglary suspect fled from the Lake Alfred area and eventually crashed near 42nd St & Ave Q in Winter Haven. A truck can be seen almost totally on top of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office cruiser. We have been advised that the suspect attempted to flee the scene of the crash, on foot, but was apprehended. We have learned that a suspect was tasered.

We are aware that the Polk County Fire Rescue was called, but cannot confirm if either the suspect or Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputy was injured. The incident appears to have started early Sunday evening so details are still not available.

We will update this article as more information becomes available.

If Either President Trump Or Presidential Candidate Biden Were To Die Or Become Incapacitated A Divided Congress Would Assure No Delay In Election

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If Either President Trump Or Presidential Candidate Biden Were To Die Or Become Incapacitated A Divided Congress Would Assure No Delay In Election

The recent diagnosis of COVID-19 for President Donald Trump has raised the question: What if a candidate dies or becomes incapacitated? Will election go on?

According to multiple scholars the congress has control. We have a divided congress so it is doubtful that they would agree on a delay if one of the candidates dies.

Yes, but that is very unlikely to happen. The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to determine the election date. Under U.S. law, the election takes place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, every four years.

The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives would almost certainly object to delaying the election, even if the Republican-controlled Senate voted to do so. The presidential election has never been postponed.

– What happens if a candidate dies ahead of the election? Both the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee have rules that call for their members to vote on a replacement nominee. However, it is likely too late to replace a candidate in time for the election.

Continue reading here: What Happens to the U.S. Presidential Election if a Candidate Dies or Becomes Incapacitated?

President Donald Trump Remains Fatigued, But In Good Spirits – Here Is His Treatment Regime Information

Staff Reporter
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President Donald Trump Remains Fatigued, But In Good Spirits – Here Is His Treatment Regime Information

Latest Details From Whitehouse

Violent Felon Who Tried To Car Jack Multiple Vehicles In Polk County Is Lucky He Wasn’t ” Shot & Shot Alot”

Staff Reporter
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Violent Felon Who Tried To Car Jack Multiple Vehicles In Polk County Is Lucky He Wasn’t ” Shot & Shot Alot”

On Friday, October 2, 2020, four different Polk County victims thwarted one suspect’s efforts to carjack each one of them after he crashed his truck fleeing from a hit-and-run on I-4. The preliminary details are as follows:

Christopher Hendrix's truck

Around 7:45 a.m. this morning, PCSO received a report of a vehicle crash at exit 38 (SR 557) on I-4, where the driver fled on foot. Calls then began coming into the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) with different reports of a black male suspect wearing blue jeans and a grey shirt attempting to jump into and steal different victims’ vehicles.

During the first attempted carjacking, the suspect ran up to a gray Chevy Colorado parked at the pumps of the Marathon gas station (6000 SR 557 in Lake Alfred) and tried to get inside. The female driver was pumping gas at the time. She sprayed him with gasoline from the hose when she saw him try to get into her car. The suspect then jumped into another victim’s burgundy Town and Country van that was parked nearby; the owner of the van was standing outside the store when he saw the suspect. That victim, a concealed weapons permit holder, drew his handgun and pointed it at the suspect and demanded he get out. The suspect fled on foot.

The suspect, positively identified as 32-year-old Christopher Hendrix, ran onto SR 557, and jumped off the side of the overpass onto I-4 westbound, causing a box truck to slam on its brakes to avoid hitting him. The box truck was then rear-ended by semi-truck. (FHP responded to investigate those crashes. They are also investigating the earlier hit-and-run crash on I-4 Hendrix caused at the beginning of his crime spree.)

A driver of a green Chevy pickup truck who witnessed the two large trucks crash, pulled over onto the shoulder to help, at which time Hendrix attempted to get into the back seat. The truck’s doors were locked and his efforts were thwarted. He then ran across I-4 to the other shoulder, and got into the passenger seat of a red Chevy Equinox whose driver had also stopped to help. That driver took the keys out of his ignition and jumped out of the car. PCSO deputies who had just responded to the area quickly took Hendrix into custody at that time. In all, Hendrix attempted to carjack four different victims.

When Hendrix was placed into the back of a PCSO patrol car, he kicked out the rear window and attempted to escape.

“This violent, convicted felon was bound and determined to forcibly steal a car this morning, but our citizens said, not today.’ While I’m grateful nobody was seriously injured, I’m also very proud of these four victims for keeping their wits about them and refusing to allow this man to take what’s theirs.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Hendrix is being charged with:

        1 count carjacking
        1 count grand theft auto
        2 counts occupied burglary
        1 count felony criminal mischief
        1 count escape

His criminal history includes 6 felonies and 4 misdemeanors, and in 2009 he was sentenced to 10 years in state prison for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon (firearm). He was released from prison in January 2017. His previous charges were for attempted murder (downgraded to aggravated battery for which he went to prison) battery, possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, firing missile into dwelling, and DWLSR.

During a news conference Sheriff Grady responded to a question by Bay News 9 reporter Josh Rojas with this answer ” I can guarantee you, when you start to try and car jack someone’s car at a gas station your subject to get shot & shot Alot”

Woman Caught Stealing Items From Walmart

Staff Reporter
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Woman Caught Stealing Items From Walmart

Release by Winter Haven Police Department :

Playing the Shoplifting Gambling Game Can Land You In Jail
Mandy Anderson of Winter Haven did just that yesterday at Walmart (7450 Cypress Gardens Blvd.). She rolled the dice and lost.
Anderson selected $215.49 worth of merchandise and never went to the registers to pay. She walked to the doors and waited until the door greeter was distracted. She then slipped right out of the doors.
When the greeter saw her and verbally tried to get her to stop, Anderson gave the command a brush off and went to her car. Unbeknownst to her, another associate was paying attention and got the tag number.
Law enforcement met her at the house where she was unloading the merchandise. You know the rest. She got the free ride to jail.
Shoplifting is stealing and it hurts everyone! (And in case you are wondering, her stash included slippers, makeup, a trunk organizer, phone pouch, sleep pants and a few other miscellaneous items.)

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