Well, they’re at it again! Scammers are calling residents in our City pretending to be a grandchild who is in jail. Ran with the wrong friend, got pulled over, landed in jail, needs bail money… you know how it goes. The same person called one of our residents two times yesterday. Our citizen didn’t fall for it and alerted us. Remember, do not EVER give out personal information or get prepaid cards. Just hang up! If you have ANY doubt, ask a question that you know only a true family member would know (such as ‘what is your sister’s name?’) – even if there isn’t a sister. Get it?
HAINES CITY, FL – A Haines City man and woman were arrested on Tuesday for their roles in a fatal single-vehicle crash that occurred in the early morning hours of Aug. 8. Wilmark Huerta Orozco, 43, is being charged with DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, reckless driving with serious injury and driving without a license. Maribel Orosco, 38, is charged with witness tampering and resisting arrest. Orozco was driving a 2020 Toyota Corolla that was headed north on U.S. 27 before 3 a.m. on Aug. 8. The investigation determined he was traveling at a high rate of speed. As he attempted to exit onto East U.S. 17/92, he drove off the right side of the exit ramp, causing the vehicle to slide through the grass for about 100 feet before hitting a pine tree.
The impact from the tree caused the vehicle to split down the middle. The front half of the car came to rest on the north side of the road while the back half came to rest on the south side. Two passengers were located in the backseat, including 30-year-old Blanca Albarran, who was pronounced dead on the scene.
When officers arrived, Orosco was walking around the scene. Orozco was found face down about 50 feet away, having apparently walked there before passing out. Orosco told police that they had been at Rosie’s Sports Bar & Grill. Injuries to Orozco’s left shoulder indicated they had come from the driver’s side seatbelt. After initially claiming that she was driving, Orosco told police that Orozco was the driver.
Both were transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center and released. The other passenger was admitted to LRHMC with non-life threatening injuries.
Blood drawn from Orozco returned a blood-alcohol level of .187 – more than twice the legal limit. Through the investigation, it was learned the Orosco contacted a bar employee, made threatening remarks and insisted that the employee tell police that Orosco was driving the night of the crash. The two were arrested on Tuesday. While being handcuffed, Orosco refused commands and continually tried to pull away before being taken into custody. Orozco is in the United States illegally.
“This is a sad case of complete disregard for the law and the life of others. We grieve the needless loss of a young woman, who had her whole life in front of her,” Chief Jim Elensky said. “I commend our Traffic Homicide Unit for their outstanding work conducting this thorough investigation. We say it all the time: if you’re going to drink, please do not drive. There is more at risk than just a DUI charge. We unfortunately saw that firsthand in this case.”
Excited to announce that Frostproof WILL have it’s Christmas Parade this year AND… our Grand Marshal will be Sheriff Grady Judd, with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office!
We will once again have our Holly Jolly Christmas Party at Henderson Field immediately following the parade! Parade will be December 5th.
Lake Wales, Florida – The Lake Wales Kiwanis Club has decided to cancel the 2020 Christmas Parade. Multiple factors lead to the decision, but specific reasons were not released. We can only imagine that COVID-19 was a major factor.
Lake Wales City Commissioner Curtis Gibson made sure it was clearly not a decision made by the city. “Some people have reached out to me asking why did the city turn down the Christmas parade. I was told that Kiwanis club made an collective decision to cancel the Christmas parade. Just want to people to know the city had no play in that decision.” Said Gibson.
Kiwanis Club members on social media were very saddened to have come to this decision. “ I have personally helped in 28 parades; I am sad. Please try not to shoot the messenger.” Said Kiwanis Club Poster.
LAKELAND, FL (August 26, 2020) | The Junior League of Greater Lakeland, the organizers of the Lakeland Christmas Parade and the City of Lakeland have made a decision to cancel the 2020 Lakeland Christmas Parade due to the complications of COVID-19. The organizing committee has obvious concerns regarding the pandemic and the unknowns of what impacts the virus may have going forward.
Bob Donahay, Director of Parks & Recreation said, “Usually at this time the organizing committee is busy reviewing applications for Christmas Parade participants. Most years, we have over 100 applications going into September and right now we have 10 applicants and no marching bands.” He added, “It is important that we notify the public and those few parade participants that completed applications of the decision to cancel the event before they start spending significant funds on floats, decorations, and other parade accommodations.”
City Manager Tony Delgado said, “This year would have marked the 40th year of the Lakeland Christmas Parade. The parade usually kicks-off the holiday season in Lakeland and it is unfortunate that this hallmark event has been cancelled. As you can imagine, it is extremely difficult to plan for a large-scale event during a global health crisis.” He added, “Our hope is this all goes away and we can get back to the life we all enjoyed before the coronavirus.”
The City of Lakeland encourages the public to follow the CDC recommendations for social distancing and hygiene. The City of Lakeland has developed a dedicated webpage with a number of resources to help the community stay informed. You can find this site at www.lakelandgov.net/covid19.
CITY NEWS BLOG: 5,000 Lakelanders Commit to Plastic Bag-Free Recycling Carts; Every Blue Cart Makes a Difference Campaign increases the quality of recycling in Lakeland
Today’s #CriminalOfTheDay is 19-year-old Jhamari Jones, who committed an armed robbery & carjacking in the Carefree Cove area of #WinterHaven last night, then fled from us in the car he stole. He crashed into another car while fleeing, and fortunately that person is okay.
The victims of the armed robbery & carjacking are also okay, and for that we are grateful. Their car, however, is not. What a scary situation.
Thanks to our eyes in the sky and our fur missiles on the ground, we caught up with Jones after he fled from the crashed car, but his accomplice is still at large.
The at-large suspect is described as a black male, between 25-30 years of age, approximately 6 feet tall, with gold teeth on both top and bottom, and light facial hair. He was brandishing a black, semi-automatic handgun.
Jones was charged with Armed Robbery (FL), False Imprisonment (F3), Grand Theft Auto (F3), Battery (M1), Fleeing to Elude (F2), and Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Injuries (F3). Jones’ criminal history includes 2 felonies and 1 misdemeanor, as well as 6 burglary charges from Georgia.
If anyone has any information regarding this incident or the suspects in question, or any other information that might be helpful to this investigation, please call Detective Escheu at 863-298-6200, 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.
On August 26, 2020, 35-year-old Winston Sanchez of Fort Meade was arrested for burglary (F3) and grand theft (F3) of a tandem bicycle.
On August 22, 2020, the victim contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to report the theft. According to the affidavit, the victim told deputies that “the bicycle was used to assist riding her disabled son around for exercise and leisure. The victim valued the bicycle at $1000.”
At that time, the victim’s family used social media in an attempt to find the stolen bicycle. Here’s a link to the Facebook post that includes a photo of the stolen bicycle: https://www.facebook.com/gina.glez.91. The post was shared several times, and a kind citizen donated a new two-seater bicycle to the family.
During the investigation, witnesses in the area told deputies that they saw someone riding the bicycle and identified the man as Sanchez.
When deputies questioned Sanchez about the stolen bicycle, he told deputies, “I’ll give it back.” Sanchez confessed to stealing the bicycle and apologized to the victim. Sanchez was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail.
“Stealing is a terrible crime, but stealing from someone with a disability is reprehensible. I’m glad the bicycle was returned to the victim, and she and her son will be able to enjoy riding together again.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Sanchez’s criminal history includes 15 felonies and 12 misdemeanors, including sexual assault of a disabled person, kidnapping/interfering with custody, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, child abuse, battery, battery domestic violence, and violation of probation.
Haines City, Florida – The Haines City Police Department has advised that arrests have been made in the traffic death of a 30 yr old Haines City woman.
According to the Haines City Police Department Blanca Albarran (she goes by Flor Garcia), a 30 year old mother from Haines City, was killed in a early morning crash August 8th. The accident occurred near the Hwy 27 & 17/92 off ramp. The crash involved a single vehicle with 4 occupants. Haines City Police Department public information officer, Michael Ferguson, advised three victims had non-life threatening injuries and that Blanca Albarran was killed. The crash involved a single vehicle with 4 occupants. Haines City Police Department public information officer, Michael Ferguson, advised three victims had non-life threatening injuries and 1 was deceased. The deceased was identified as Blanca Albarran (she goes by Flor Garcia) a 30 year old mother from Haines City. One of the three victims also suffered serious injuries.
The accident was under investigation and also had a pending toxicology report. Details of the arrest are not yet available, but we will bring them to you as soon as they are released.
Blanca Albarran leaves behind 14 year old son. Family members set up a GoFundMe account. As a policy we do not directly share GoFundMe accounts, but here is a link to her brothers Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/silvano.albarran.50
