Here’s a “Did you know?”! Officer Lee Amos (proudly serving at the Winter Haven Police Department) has a not-for-profit mentoring program in the city he lives – Mulberry. Being a positive example to the youth of his community and the community he serves is one of his deepest passions. When his squad learned all about his endeavor – well, the picture speaks volumes. They didn’t ride the bikes to the kids in Mulberry, but they did take a moment (along with K-9 Bane) to pose with the new gifts being provided to a local church for distribution!
At the September 15 regular City Commission meeting, health officials from the Polk County Health Department provided an update on COVID-19 in Winter Haven and Polk County and answered many questions about the virus and data. After much discussion, debate and public input, the City Commissioners unanimously approved an extension of the existing mask ordinance through October 15 with plans to explore data and continue discussions with local health professions to establish criteria to lift the mask ordinance.
27-year-old Mark Anthony Callahan, Jr. of Dundee was arrested during the early morning hours of Monday, September 21, 2020, and charged with:
Second degree murder (FL) Possession of short-barreled shotgun (F2) Possession of meth (F2) Tampering with physical evidence (F3) Possession of drug paraphernalia (M1)
in the fatal shooting of an adult male victim who was staying at the same hotel as Callahan.
On Sunday, September 20th, the PCSO Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received 911 calls related to a shooting at the Monticello Motel (28500 US Hwy 27 in Dundee). When first responders arrived, they found the victim laying in the parking lot near a parked but running vehicle, with several gunshot wounds that appeared to be birdshot. He was taken to Heart of Florida Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The following is an excerpt from the affidavit, and it is self-explanatory;
When deputies first arrived at the scene, they made contact with the suspect, Mark Callahan, in room number 17.
The suspect said he lived in room number 17, alone. The suspect said he knew the victim because the victim lived with his girlfriend a couple of rooms down from his. The suspect said that on the evening of 09/20/20, he was in his room and the victim approached his door. The suspect said the victim entered his room and they started to fight. The suspect said that while the victim was fighting with him, the victim armed himself with a pair of scissors and cut him several times. (The suspect had a minor cut below his right eye, a minor injury on his left ear, and minor scratches on his side.) The suspect said the victim left the area in a vehicle, but he said he would be back. The suspect said he went back in his room and then deputies came to his door a short time later. The suspect said he knew nothing about the victim being shot.
The suspect then said he did shoot the victim after the fight occurred in his room. The suspect said the victim did leave the area after the fight. The suspect said he armed himself with a shotgun he had in his room and approximately five to ten minutes later the victim pulled in the parking lot and started yelling at him to give him his phone. The suspect said he told the victim he did not have his phone. The suspect said the victim was walking around near the driver’s side of the vehicle he drove up in and it looked like he was reaching inside the vehicle. The suspect said the victim reached into his pocket and he thought the victim might be retrieving a gun. The suspect said he then fired the shotgun he had at the victim one time. The suspect said he was standing at his room door and the victim was standing near the vehicle he drove up in when he fired the shotgun. The suspect said that after he fired at the victim, he threw the shotgun over a privacy fence.
Based on the statement of the suspect and witnesses, the victim was approximately 36 feet away from the suspect when he was shot by the suspect. According to witnesses, the victim did not approach the suspect when he arrived back at the motel, the victim did reach into his pocket and that is when the suspect shot him. The victim also lived at the motel and had a legal right to be at the motel.
The suspect and victim did get into a physical fight in the suspect’s motel room, but when the fight was over, the victim left the area, returning a few minutes later. Once the victim arrived back at the motel, he parked approximately 35 feet away from the suspect’s room door. Once the victim got out of the vehicle, he started yelling for the suspect to give him his phone, while still standing near his vehicle. The victim reached into his pocket and that is when the suspect fired his shotgun at him, from approximately 36 feet away. At no time during the shooting did the victim say he had a gun or he was retrieving a weapon. There was no testimony indicating the victim approached or advanced towards the suspect when he arrived back at the motel. Your Affiant has established probable cause, based on the circumstances, that the suspect committed murder in the 2nd degree when he intentionally fired a shotgun at the victim, when he was not in danger of bodily harm at that moment in time.
During the investigation, a search warrant was obtained to search the suspect’s room. During a search of the suspect’s motel room, a glass bowl pipe containing white residue was located in his bathroom. The white residue field tested positive for Methamphetamine. The shotgun used by the suspect was located on the ground in the area of where the suspect said he threw it over a fence. The barrel of the shotgun was sawed off and the barrel length was 12 inches long in violation of F.S.S. 790.221 (Possession of a Short-Barreled Shotgun).
Two witnesses at the hotel confirmed some of the details, including the fact that the suspect said he knew the victim would be back because the victim left his phone in the suspect’s room.
Callahan’s criminal history includes 15 prior arrests in Georgia, including several DUIs, two hit-and-runs, cocaine possession, fleeing to elude, DWLSR, aggressive driving, and two probation violations; and 14 prior arrests in Florida, including meth possession, marijuana possession, and petit theft.
“It appears that this suspect, who has a criminal history, armed himself with an illegally-altered shotgun and waited for the victim to return. He then shot the man in cold blood and tried to lie about it when our deputies arrived. This dangerous felon belongs behind bars.” –Grady Judd, Sheriff
The Bartow Police Department is investigating an armed carjacking which occurred at 222 W. Ethelene St, Bartow on 09/20/2020 at about 7:48 pm. The stolen vehicle is a 2011 Kia Sorrento, bearing Florida license plate LLSF14.
Three small children were in the vehicle at the time of the carjacking, however all three have been recovered and are safe.
The suspect description is as follows: Two light skinned black males, approximately 130 pounds last seen wearing camo masks. No further suspect description. Shots were fired during this incident, and the suspects are to be considered armed and dangerous.
If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact the Bartow Police Department immediately at 863-534-5034.
Fatal hit and run of a pedestrian being investigated by the Polk County Sheriff’s OfficeThe Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is conducting an investigation of a fatal hit and run of a pedestrian which occurred last night, Friday, September 18, 2020 on Reynolds Road between the intersections of Main Street East and Barrington Avenue in Lakeland.According to the evidence and family statements, the victim, 44-year-old Nichole Lynn Williams, left her home last night walking to the Reynolds Road Food Mart, just south of her residence. Evidence confirms Williams arrived at the store, made a purchase, and then began walking toward her residence at around 9:00 pm. Williams never made it home.The Emergency Communications Center received a report of a possible deceased person in a ditch on Reynolds Road this morning, September 19, 2020, at about 8:33 am. When deputies and Polk Fire Rescue arrived on scene, Williams was found in a ditch on the east side of Reynolds Road deceased. Williams was wearing dark clothing.Based on evidence found at the scene, deputies believe Williams was walking northbound, with the flow of traffic, on Reynolds Road just north of Barrington Avenue when she was struck from behind by what appears to be an older model SUV or pick-up truck. The vehicle did not stop following the crash.If anyone has any information regarding the driver, the vehicle, or any other information that might be helpful to this investigation, please call Detective Walsh at 863-297-1100, or to remain anonymous, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers – call 1-800-226 TIPS (8477), visit ww.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,” or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident that took place Wednesday evening. The incident took place near Powerline Road in Davenport. Here is an exerpt of the incident in the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit:
“The Victim, REDACTED(due to Marsys Law victim information can only be released with permission from victim.) , resides at the incident location. The Suspect, Adan Emmanuel Gonzalez Herrera is a distant relative of the Victim. The Victim advised they do not know each other and have never lived together as a family unit.
On 09-16-2020, the Suspect drove over to the Victim’s residence, parking outside the fence near the street, and requested to see the Victim’s brother, REDACTED. After the Victim advised the Suspect that his brother wasn’t there, the suspect attempted to enter the residence and the victim prevented him from doing so. The Suspect then returned to his vehicle (a 2015 Toyota Corolla) and drove into the driveway at a high rate of speed. The Suspect drove towards the Victim, who was standing in the driveway next to a pick-up truck. The Victim began to run out of the way to avoid being hit. As the Victim ran across the sidewalk up to the front porch, the Suspect continued following the Victim in an apparent attempt to hit him. The Victim jumped out of the way to avoid being struck and landed on his knees and elbows. The vehicle struck a support for the front porch overhang and then struck the corner of the house. The Suspect then exited the vehicle and fled the scene.
The Victim received scrapes to his elbows and knees and advised his ankles and hips were sore as a result of the incident. After being checked by Polk County EMS the, Victim declined to be transported to the hospital.
The Victim advised the act of the Suspect attempting to hit him with the vehicle, placed in his mind a well-founded fear that actual violence was about to take place.
The Suspect acted in a willful and malicious manner causing extensive structural damage to the corner of the house with an estimated repair cost of over $1000.
The Victim signed a rights and certification insert.
After an extensive search, deputies located the Suspect at 1019 Powerline Road in Davenport.
The Suspect initially stated he stopped to ask for directions and someone hit him in the head with a beer bottle. The Suspect then refused to make any further statements regarding the incident and requested to speak to his lawyer.
Based on the investigation, the suspect was taken into custody and charged with Aggravated Assault with a Motor Vehicle and Criminal Mischief over $1000.
The Suspect was transported by Polk County EMS to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with injuries of an unknown origin, where he was held overnight for observation.”
The suspect was eventually released and transported to Polk County Jail.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash which occurred early Friday evening at the intersection of SR-60 & Boy Scout Rd. According to reports a sedan was traveling southbound on Boy Scout Road approaching SR-60. A semi-tractor was traveling eastbound on SR-60. At the intersection, controlled by a stop sign, the sedan continued into the path of semi-tractor. As a result, the front of semi-tractor collided with the passenger side of sedan. The driver, of these sedan, suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash.
The FHP currently doesn’t release names of accident victims due to Marsys Law.
We are aware that the victim is a woman and a 1 yr male child passenger suffered minor injuries.
The semi driver was from Texas and he suffered no injuries.
Calling 9-1-1 because you want a ride? Not cool. Calling back claiming a dead body is at McDonald’s? You get what you ask for now.
That’s what 46 year-old Jermaine Williams of Winter Haven did early this morning. Around 1:15 a.m., Williams dialed 9-1-1 claiming there was a “dead body” at McDonald’s on 6th St NW in Winter Haven. He rambled a few inaudible comments and then hung up. Naturally, numerous officers and deputies swiftly head to McDonald’s but instead of a body as reported, they found Williams sitting on the curb. He just wanted a ride home.
It was determined he had also called numerous times earlier in the night asking for a ride. He was told if he needed EMS, they would take him to seek medical attention. Nope – not medical, just wanted a ride.
Yeah, he got a ride this morning alright, to the luxurious accommodations at the Polk County Jail where he remains. (He was charged with Misuse of 9-1-1)
We thank the shoplifter who put her hair up to show her descriptive “Bubba” tattoo on her neck. Now we need someone to identify her.
The woman in the blue scrubs along with the second pictured woman went to Bealls (5998 Cypress Gardens Blvd.) on Sept. 14 spending a little more than an hour inside. They each filled up their carts with more than $640 worth of merchandise.
The woman in blue took her cart to the men’s dressing room and entered with her purple and black bag. She came out with much less than she entered and that bag was much fatter than when she entered.
They both pushed their carts out of the doors with no attempt to pay. When approached by an associate they both ran through the parking lot entering a white/silver possible Toyota Rav4.
The woman in blue has tattoos of stars behind her right ear and “Bubba” on the left side of her neck along with “Love” on her left and and the Infinity symbol on her inner left arm.
We know there is someone who can help us identify her or her accomplice. And… GO!
Call Detective Cobb at 863-401-2256. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a CASH reward.
