Hoping the people in the video will call us with possible information about a lost phone. Our victim was at the Dollar Tree (5863 Cypress Gardens Blvd) and left her phone behind in the shopping cart. Three adults come into the store and use the cart the phone was in. The trio leave without purchasing anything. The victim immediately returned and the cart was in the back of the store empty. We hope one of the three can help our investigation into where the phone may be. Please call Detective Ovalle at 863-401-2256.
Juicy Burgers of Central Florida – Your Local Custom Made Burger Restaurant
By Allison Williams
If you are looking for a delicious, custom made burger, then look no further than Juicy Burgers of Central Florida, located on Cypress Gardens Boulevard in Winter Haven.
George Manaroulas purchased Juicy Burgers about a year and a half ago and opened his restaurant’s doors January 2020. It is a family owned and operated establishment.
Manaroulas has been in the restaurant business for quite some time and he has owned a few restaurants over the years. He also owns Auburndale Main Street Diner.
Juicy Burgers creates their food fresh with high quality ingredients, which may make one assume prices are high; however that is not the case. The menu offers a variety of items for affordable prices. Custom burgers, chicken, wings, fries, salads, shakes, desserts, you name it! Right now, the restaurant is offering $8.00 To Go meals. This is a great option for those who want to try the food, but want to eat in the comfort of their own homes.
$8.00 To Go Order choices:
*All options come with French fries and a drink*
Juicy Burgers Original 1/3 pound
Chicken Strips – 4 piece
Turkey Burger
Veggies Burger
Those who are looking for a little more food in a meal (½ pound burgers)-
Who doesn’t like happy hour? That’s right – Juicy Burger even has a happy hour!
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with half priced milkshakes every day
All day Monday-Thursday half priced kids meals with any purchase from the regular menu
“Our goal is for people to come and get the best burger with the freshest ingredients,” Manaroulas said. “All of our burgers are custom made and the unique part is that customers can do whatever they want with our menu, and we have a lot of options.”
Something that Manaroulas has always kept in mind, especially when opening up Juicy Burgers-
“My uncle always told me to let the customers get whatever they want (custom made),” Manaroulas said. He added, “You need good food and good service with a smile, and the right price will do it.”
A fun, unique feature inside Juicy Burgers’ door is a kids area.
“We have our kids area that can keep your kids occupied with iPads and coloring books,” Manaroulas said. “Parents can enjoy their burger while the kids have fun.” Stop by Monday – Thursday any time of day and your kids can get their kids meals for ½ off (with a regular menu purchase).
A future plan for Juicy Burgers is to start offering beer. The restaurant will start offering beer once they receive their license to do so. Stay tuned on the Juicy Burgers Facebook page to keep up-to-date with new specials and deals!
Juicy Burgers is open Monday – Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Located at 585 Cypress Gardens Blvd in Winter Haven
Update -**Located safe** Have you seen DeShawn Rose? The 16 year-old left his home, located at 231 Ave A NE after an argument with his mother. He left with his 14 year-old sister, where they went to Rotary Park to “cool off.” The sister ultimately returned home. DeShawn told his sister he would go to a friend’s house, however she didn’t know the friend’s name or where the friend lived. Rose was last seen wearing a black tank top and jeans. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Detective Ditty at 863-401-2256.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Lake Wales man on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, after an investigation showed that he manipulated, threatened, and extorted a 10-year-old girl into sending him nude images of herself. 19-year-old Simon “Pete” Anderson used the social-media platform Facebook to communicate with the victim, and he admitted to knowing that the girl was only 10-years-old.
The investigation began on April 30th when a parent of another child was told that Anderson was sending the girl photos of his penis.
During a forensic interview with the victim, she revealed that Anderson (whose Facebook account used the name Pete Anderson), had sent her inappropriate messages and pictures of his penis.
The PCSO Computer Crimes Unit searched the victim’s cell phone and discovered multiple messages and images that had been sent from Anderson’s Facebook account.
The messages on the phone revealed Anderson’s aggressive efforts with the victim. He tried coercing her into sending him nude pictures of herself by threatening to report her to law enforcement, as well as threatening to kill her and himself if she didn’t comply. The girl admitted to sending Anderson photos because she was in fear of his threats.
When a PCSO detective from the Special Victims Unit interviewed Anderson, he admitted that he sent her images of his penis. He told the detective that they were “kind of in a relationship, but not really.” He claimed that he didn’t want to send her the photos of his penis, but he did so, “to be nice.”
“As a parent, this kind of a story has got to break your heart, scare you, and make you angry, all at the same time. Sick creeps like this are out there folks…going after innocent children. This is exactly why I say that parents need to be all-up in their child’s business. You need to monitor who they’re communicating with online.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff. Simon Anderson was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail. He was charged with Extortion (F2), Possession of Child Pornography (F3), 3-counts of Transmitting Material Harmful to a Child (F3), and Aggravated Cyberstalking (F3). The investigation is ongoing. Anderson’s electronic storage devices were collected, and they will be searched. Any additional evidence found on those devices could lead to additional charges.
Guess people love to see themselves on our FB page.
These distinctive tattoos will probably help with an ID.
On two separate trips, the female swaps UPC stickers and scans higher priced items at Walmart (7450 Cypress Gardens Blvd.). She is with the male pictured and also had two small boys and a baby with her. They are seen leaving in a four-door burgundy Nissan or Toyota.
Anyone with information on their identities is asked to call Det. Lozado at 863-401-2256. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a CASH reward.
Can you identify any of these subjects? All subjects shown below used a fraudulent Home Depot credit card (possibly cloned) in Lakeland and Winter Haven during the month of May. The same card number was used in all transactions on various dates. If anyone can help identify any of the subjects, please call Winter Haven Det. Leonard at 863-401-2256 or Lakeland Det. Sharrett at 863-834-6900. 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.
A three-vehicle crash near Lakeland Tuesday night, June 17, 2020, resulted in the deaths of two men.
At about 8:08 pm, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office dispatched deputies to Combee Road, just north of Centurion Drive.
Three men in three different vehicles were involved. The two men who were killed at the scene were identified as 39-year-old Derek Faircloth of Ocala, and 31-year-old Justin Parks of Lakeland. The third man involved was 57-year-old Bevan Tapper of Fort Lauderdale. He was not injured in the crash.
According to the preliminary investigation, Tapper was driving a white 2020 Kenworth semi-tractor south on Combee Road. Behind the semi-truck was Parks, in a white 2002 GMC pick-up truck. Faircloth was driving north in a white 2020 Toyota 4Runner.
Evidence and witnesses indicate that Faircloth’s Toyota crossed the center line and glanced off of the trailer of the semi-truck. The Toyota then struck Parks’ GMC head-on, which caused the pick-up truck to catch on fire.
At this time, it is unknown what caused Faircloth’s vehicle to strike both vehicles.
Faircloth has had a revoked driver’s license since 2013.
During the investigation of the crash, the Florida Highway Patrol arrived on the scene and indicated that Faircloth’s Toyota had been involved in a hit-and-run crash on I-4 earlier in the day.
Combee Road was closed for about five hours during the investigation, which is ongoing.
And the hits just keep on coming!
This guy with the neon shirt, cammo hat and face mask enters Walmart (7450 Cypress Gardens Blvd.) and chooses an Onn sound bar, backpack and windshield wipers. He proceeds to test the system (as so many others have done). Scans with a bar code of an item that is less than $1.00. He evidently likes red PowerAde too because you’ll see that in his back pocket. He either has mutton chops or a full beard as there is definitely scruffiness peeking out around his jawline.
Anyone who knows who he may be is asked to contact Det. Cobb at 863-401-2256. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS ( 8477). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a CASH reward.
6-year-old boy dies following two-vehicle crash near Lakeland
A 6-year-old boy died Tuesday morning, June 16, 2020, following a two-vehicle crash in the Highland City area of Lakeland.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the crash between a car and pick-up truck at U.S. 98 and Wallace Road, at about 6:50 am.
The boy, identified as Liam Earley of Bartow, had been ejected from the truck and subsequently suffered head trauma. He was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.
Liam was a passenger in a gray 2019 Ford Ranger pick-up truck, driven by 38-year-old Lisa Earley. Also in that vehicle was 8-year-old Daylen Earley.
The other vehicle involved, a white 2018 Toyota Corolla, was driven by 38-year-old Jose Vazquez Clemente of Lakeland.
Liam was the only one to suffer any substantial injuries from the crash.
According to the preliminary investigation, both vehicles were travelling north on U.S. 98 when, according to witnesses, the Toyota began drifting back-and-forth across the northbound lanes. The left-front of the Toyota struck the right-rear of the Ford, causing the truck to spin, then roll several times.
Liam was ejected from the truck and landed on the shoulder of the road.
Clemente stated that he fell asleep while driving.
The northbound lanes of U.S. 98 were closed for approximately four hours.
The investigation is ongoing, and charges are pending its completion.
Florida Department of Corrections Officer and Sisters
Arrested Over Altercation Involving a Basketball
According to the affidavit from PCSO:
Tamara Gains traveled to the victims residence in Frostproof to confront them about being in possession of a basketball she felt belonged to her sons. There was no altercations at this time and everyone dispersed.
Shortly after the victims were playing basketball at the community park. Tamara Gains along with her three sisters Dorothy Plain, D’Andra Lewis, and Lashasta Boatwright-Gains (a corrections officer for the Florida Department of Corrections) and two minors allegedly exited the vehicle and immediately engaged in a verbal argument with one of the victims. Tamara shouted to a minor “That’s the boy I want you to fight. Beat his ass.” The victim tried to walk away, while Tamara and the minor followed. The victim turned around to defend himself. During the fight Tamara joined the minor striking the minor victim with a closed fist along with D’Andra Lewis. Others tried breaking up the fight when the other sisters joined in the fight. Dorothy and Lashasta used a white pipe as a weapon.
The fight was finally broken up by neighbors and law
enforcement.
Tamara Gains DOB:
11/26/1986 is charged with:
3 counts Battery – Prior Conviction
Disorderly Conduct
Contributing to Delinquency/Dependency
Tamara Gaines Criminal history:
02/01/2016 – Simple Battery (Domestic Violence
02/10/2015 – Simple Battery
05/24/2012 – Resisting Officer with violence
Dorothy Jean Plain
DOB: 04/15/1985 is charged with:
Agg Assault Deadly Weapon WO Intent
Disorderly conduct
Lashasta Gaines
DOB: 08/14/1982 “Corrections Officer with Florida Department of Corrections” is
charged with:
