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Man Charged With Two Counts of Attempted Murder In 2nd Degree After Shooting In Lakeland

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Man Charged With Two Counts of Attempted Murder In 2nd Degree After Shooting In Lakeland

Lakeland, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Rikiji Chapper, DOB 08/27/1985, and charged him with two counts of Attempted Murder in the 2nd Degree following a shooting in Lakeland in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 25th.

The shooting occurred around the Chestnut Hills Drive/2300 block of Lakeland.

Editors Note: The exact location and names of victims are not being released due to Marsys Law.

According to reports Chapper and the two victims, he is accused of shooting, were hanging out earlier in the evening of April 24th. It appears that Chapper was staying at a residence next door to the incident area. During that time it is reported that a verbal dispute occurred between the suspect and the victims. Chapper asked his girlfriend to to take him to his brothers residence. At approximately 1 am, Saturday morning the 25th. Chapper returned intoxicated and helped by his girlfriend into his residence at approximately 3 am. Chapper and the 2 victims (who were also drinking) exchanged words, but were not aggressive towards each other.

At approximately 3:09 am multiple gunshots were heard at the incident location.  Immediately thereafter, one victim ran into his apartment, woke his live-in girlfriend,  and said, “Rakiji shot me”. The second victim fled the scene on foot and ran to his residence. That victim later told law enforcement officers that the first victims neighbor shot him.

Both shooting victims were transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center with gunshot wounds. The first victim was shot in the chest. The second was shot 3 times. Once in the leg, once in the abdomen and once in the bicep. Both victims were listed in critical condition after the incident and the first victim had been intubated and was unresponsive.

Chapper was later arrested at his brothers residence. According to reports while there, Officer McLaughlin of Lakeland Police Department overheard Chapper say to another subject, “I made sure I killed them”.  In addition to this admission, this statement indicated he knew that there was more than one victim.

Chapper is currently in Polk County Jail. He was given a $202,000 bond. This isn’t the first time Chapper has been arrested. He has multiple previous arrests for DUI, Drug Possession, Driving Without A License, Violation of Probation and resisting arrest without violence.

4-27 Update: COVID-19~31,290 positive cases in Florida residents and 848 positive cases in non-Florida

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4-27 Update: COVID-19~31,290 positive cases in Florida residents and 848 positive cases in non-Florida

Florida Department of Health Updates New COVID-19 Cases, Announces Fourteen Deaths Related to COVID-19~31,290 positive cases in Florida residents and 848 positive cases in non-Florida residents~

TALLAHASSEE — Today, the Florida Department of Health announced that the list of long-term care facilities in Florida associated with COVID-19 cases will now include active cases in each facility in order to provide real-time data. The list of long-term care facilities with active COVID-19 cases is available here. To date, 319 individuals that were staff or residents of a long-term care facility have died. The Florida Department of Health, in order to provide more comprehensive data, releases a report on COVID-19 cases in Florida once per day. The Florida Department of Health COVID-19 dashboard is also providing updates once per day. The state also provides a report detailing surveillance data for every Florida county. Previously, this information was only available for select communities. The surveillance data report is available here.Today, as of 11 a.m., there are 610 new positive COVID-19 cases (610 Florida residents and 0 non-Florida residents) and fourteen deaths related to COVID-19. There are a total of 32,138 Florida cases** with 1,088 deaths related to COVID-19.While Florida’s testing has increased over the past week, the percent of those testing positive for COVID-19 overall is 9 percent. On April 26, six percent of new cases** tested positive. Since 11 a.m. on April 26, fourteen people have died who tested positive for COVID-19 in Broward, Dade, Duval, Hernando, Leon, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas and Volusia counties.Florida recently partnered with private laboratories around the state to expand COVID-19 laboratory testing capacity. This partnership will increase the number of tests conducted each day and ensure Floridians receive the critical health information they need in a timely manner.Expansion to private laboratories changes the COVID-19 testing landscape in Florida. Private laboratories are running tests as they receive swab samples from practitioners. Testing and reporting times vary among commercial and DOH laboratories. Demographic information may be updated during investigations. These twice daily reports reflect the state’s efforts to accurately and transparently share information. More information on a case-by-case basis can also be found here..

4-27

For more detail on Florida resident cases, please visit the live DOH Dashboard here. * Florida residents that are diagnosed with COVID-19 and isolated out of state are not reflected on the Florida map.**This percentage is the number of people who test positive for the first time divided by all tests, excluding people who have previously tested positive.***Total cases overview includes positive cases in Florida residents and non-Florida residents tested in Florida.More Information on COVID-19 To find the most up-to-date information and guidance on COVID-19, please visit the Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage. For information and advisories from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), please visit the CDC COVID-19 website, this website is also available in Spanish and Creole. For more information about current travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State, please visit the travel advisory website. For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours per day. Inquiries may also be emailed to [email protected].About the Florida Department of HealthThe Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.###

Rubber Surface Added to Splash Pad At Trailhead Park

Staff Reporter
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Rubber Surface Added to Splash Pad At Trailhead Park

City of Winter Haven:

While we are all social distancing due to COVID-19, the City is performing maintenance on certain facilities to prepare for when we are able to enjoy our public amenities again. Once open, children will find a brand new look and feel at the Splash Pad located at Trailhead Park! A 3/8” rippled non-skid rubberized tile surface was installed to improve traction and minimize slips and falls. (Water shoes are still encouraged!) We are looking forward to the day we see children enjoying this improved space!

Winter Haven Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter After Allegedly Hitting Man On Motorized Wheelchair & Fleeing Scene

Staff Reporter
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Winter Haven Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter After Allegedly Hitting Man On Motorized Wheelchair & Fleeing Scene
John O’Brien Charged With DUI Manslaughter

Eagle Lake, Florida – The Florida Hwy Patrol has arrested and charged a Winter Haven man, John O’Brien and charged him with DUI Manslaughter and Leaving the Scene of A Crash Involving Death. The crash occurred at 12:35 pm on April 25, 2020. According to reports O’Brien, was traveling westbound in the outside lane of SR-540, North of Eagle Lake Road. The victim was operating a motorized scooter/wheelchair westbound on the sidewalk along the northern portion of SR-540. O’Brien, allegedly, failed to maintain control of his vehicle which departed the roadway and collided with the victim (60 yr old Mulberry man). Post-impact, O’Brien, allegedly, fled the scene of the crash. Witnesses flagged down a passing FHP trooper who stopped the O’Brien a short distance from the crash on Eagle Lake Road. Transported to an area hospital, the pedestrian later expired from injuries sustained during the crash.

A passerby was able to stay with the victim until emergency crews arrived. Holding his hand and praying for him. According to witnesses the vehicle dragged the scooter/wheelchair down the road. According to the witness the scooter/wheelchair was obliterated.

O’Brien is currently being held without bond. The name of the victim has not been released at this time.

Single Vehicle Crash in Highland City Sends Two People to The Hospital

Staff Reporter
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Single Vehicle Crash in Highland City Sends Two People to The Hospital

Single Vehicle Crash in Highland City Sends Two People to The Hospital

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-vehicle crash in Highland City on Sunday, April 26, 2020, that sent two people to the hospital.

The crash occurred at about 8:37 p.m. on Boy Scout Ranch Road, east of Black Walnut Drive.

Involved in the crash were 30-year-old Brian Denmark of Lakeland and 29-year-old Phillip Smith of Highland City. Denmark was the driver of a white 2012 Ford Fusion and Smith was the passenger.

According to the preliminary investigation, Denmark’s Fusion was eastbound on Boy Scout Ranch Road when the passenger-side tire left the roadway and struck a mailbox, a chain-link fence, and finally a tree before coming to a rest.

Both men were transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center for treatment. Denmark was reported to be in critical condition, and Smith’s condition was stable. Neither were wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

The cause for the crash has not yet been determined and the investigation is ongoing.

The roadway was closed for approximately four hours for the investigation.

Haines City Man Killed & Woman Injured In Late Night Crash

Staff Reporter
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Haines City Man Killed & Woman Injured In Late Night Crash

A single-vehicle crash just after midnight on Saturday morning resulted in the death of a passenger, and the hospitalization of the driver. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash, which occurred at about 12:09 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2020, on U.S. 27, about a half-mile north of Lucerne Park Road in Haines City.

57-year-old Michael Browning of Haines City, was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, but died from his injuries.

The driver of the vehicle, 51-year-old Sandra Mayberry of Haines City, was also transported to LRHMC, in stable condition.

According to the preliminary investigation, Mayberry was driving a white 2007 Chevy 2500 truck, north on U.S. 27 in the outside lane.

For unknown reasons at this time, the truck swerved to the right, went off of the roadway, and overturned several times. The truck struck a barbed wire fence and came to a rest in a cow pasture on the east side of the highway.

Ms. Mayberry was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, but Mr. Browning was not.

The Florida Department of Transportation assisted deputies by rerouting traffic around the crash site. The roadway was closed for about four hours.

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and the investigation is ongoing.

Helping Others Through The Memory of Kaity

Staff Reporter
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Helping Others Through The Memory of Kaity

Helping Others Through The Memory of Kaity.

Many of you know our world was turned upside down on March 22, 2020. Our beautiful KT was taken from us in a car crash by a wrong-way driver. Her love, Landon, was critically injured and recently released from the hospital. The two of them, together, were such a powerful couple with so much love to give, and their lives planned out.
Kaity would have graduated in December, 2020 with her BS degree in Nursing. She was so prepared and ready to help people and had the most caring soul. The idea for a foundation came from Kaity herself; she had wanted to start something to assist families in the community.
In an effort to continue Kaity’s legacy, the KT Sunshine Foundation was created to be a ray of sunshine for someone to be her shining light in this world. Kaity was the light in a dark room, the reason we smile and a joy to be around. In her 22 years, she has touched so many people and this foundation will continue to touch many more.

We are looking for donations or sponsors. Our goal is to turn our worst nightmare into something good for someone else. KT was the light in any room, and we want her memory & legacy to live on.

https://www.ktsunshinefoundation.com/

Sheriff Judd Reads “Cuddle” by Beth Shoshan- A Creative Way to Tuck Your Little Ones in For Bedtime

Staff Reporter
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Sheriff Judd Reads “Cuddle” by Beth Shoshan- A Creative Way to Tuck Your Little Ones in For Bedtime

Polk County Sheriffs Office:

DYK? Sheriff Judd loves reading children’s books to his grandkids! If you’re running out of creative ways to tuck your little ones into bed at night, you’re welcome to show them this video of Sheriff Judd reading “Cuddle” by Beth Shoshan. We plan on posting more of these on our YouTube page so please subscribe now! www.youtube.com/polksheriff

COVID-19 Morning Update ~28,043 positive cases in Florida residents and 789 positive cases in non-Florida residents

Staff Reporter
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COVID-19 Morning Update ~28,043 positive cases in Florida residents and 789 positive cases in non-Florida residents

Florida Department of Health Updates New COVID-19 Cases, Announces Thirty-Three Deaths Related to COVID-19, Morning Update~28,043 positive cases in Florida residents and 789 positive cases in non-Florida residents~

369 Polk County Residents have tested positive and 17 Polk County Residents ranging from 44 years of age to 90 have died due to Covid-19

TALLAHASSEE —To keep Florida residents and visitors safe, informed and aware about the status of the virus, the Florida Department of Health has launched a COVID-19 dashboard that is updated twice daily. Today, as of 11 a.m., there are 28,832 total** Florida cases.There are currently 335 long-term care facilities with positive cases of COVID-19. The Florida Department of Health has published the list here. The twice daily COVID-19 report also includes information by county about deaths related to staff or residents in long-term care facilities. Of the 2,386 cases of residents or staff in long-term care facilities, 258 have died.While Florida’s testing has increased over the past week, the percent of those testing positive for COVID-19 overall is 10 percent. Of the 12,637 tests performed on April 22, there were 1,169 positive results, or 9 percent. Thirty-three people have died who tested positive for COVID-19 Broward, Charlotte, Dade, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Palm Beach, Polk and St. Lucie counties. New Florida cases include:

  • 256 additional positive COVID-19 cases (252 Florida residents and 4 non-Florida residents) reported to the Florida Department of Health.
  • There are currently 28,043 positive cases in Florida residents and 789 positive cases in non-Florida residents.

Florida recently partnered with private laboratories around the state to expand COVID-19 laboratory testing capacity. This partnership will increase the number of tests conducted each day and ensure Floridians receive the critical health information they need in a timely manner.Expansion to private laboratories changes the COVID-19 testing landscape in Florida. Private laboratories are running tests as they receive swab samples from practitioners. Testing and reporting times vary among commercial and DOH laboratories. Demographic information may be updated during investigations. These twice daily reports reflect the state’s efforts to accurately and transparently share information. More information on a case-by-case basis can also be found here..

4-23 am

For more detail on Florida resident cases, please visit the live DOH Dashboard here. * Florida residents that are diagnosed with COVID-19 and isolated out of state are not reflected on the Florida map.**Total cases overview includes positive cases in Florida residents and non-Florida residents tested in Florida.More Information on COVID-19 To find the most up-to-date information and guidance on COVID-19, please visit the Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage. For information and advisories from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), please visit the CDC COVID-19 website, this website is also available in Spanish and Creole. For more information about current travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State, please visit the travel advisory website. For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours per day. Inquiries may also be emailed to [email protected].About the Florida Department of HealthThe Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

Accidental Shooting Leads to Out-Of-State Fugitive Arrested For Drug Trafficking & Other Charges

Staff Reporter
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Accidental Shooting Leads to Out-Of-State Fugitive Arrested For Drug Trafficking & Other Charges

On Wednesday, April 22, 2020, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a call from Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center regarding a woman who was brought in with a gunshot wound to the leg. Deputies responded to the hospital to interview the victim, who told them initially that two unknown suspects broke into her home at a mobile home park on New Tampa Highway in Lakeland and shot her.
Deputies responded to the mobile home park and began their investigation. They quickly learned that the woman lives with a man who local residents said was a drug dealer, and they found narcotics and a handgun at the scene. Several park residents were interviewed, who gave deputies two different names – “Mario” and “Romeo” – of the man who lives in the trailer with the victim.
During a search of the mobile home park, deputies located the man hiding in the maintenance garage. He also gave them a false name of “Mario,” but a check of his fingerprints with a rapid-ID scanner revealed his true identity as Elias Marte, DOB 04/16/1971, who has felony probation and parole violation warrants for his arrest in South Dakota and New York.

Detectives interviewed Marte, who told them that the victim accidentally shot herself, and he fled because of his out-of-state warrants. Detectives interviewed the victim again, who said Marte accidentally shot her while trying to eject a round from the gun, and that she lied about unknown suspects shooting her so that Marte would not get into trouble. She got a ride to the hospital from family members. The family members told deputies that the victim said she was shot by two suspects who tried to rob her, but they suspected Marte shot the victim, which is why he fled the scene.
In Marte’s backpack, deputies recovered two baggies containing 47 total grams of cocaine, a baggie containing 9 grams of Meth, two baggies containing marijuana, a digital scale, several empty baggies, a Smith and Wesson .38 special revolver, an extended .40 caliber handgun magazine, and several .40 caliber rounds.

Marte was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:

  • Armed trafficking in cocaine (F-L)
  • Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (F-2)
  • Possession of meth (F-3)
  • Culpable negligence inflicting harm (M-1)
  • Possession of paraphernalia (M-1)

Marte’s criminal history includes assault and perjury, and parole violations from South Dakota and New York, for which he has warrants. He was convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in South Dakota in 2015, and sentenced to 96 months in prison. He was convicted of first degree assault with a weapon with intent to cause serious injury in New York in 2005.
“This drug dealer, illegally in possession of a firearm, was hiding in Polk County, Florida with warrants from two different states. The victim is lucky she wasn’t hurt worse. We will do everything we can to hold this violent felon accountable for his crimes in Polk County, and make sure he answers to South Dakota and New York for his outstanding warrants.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

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