Polk County Sheriff’s Office Responded to 911 Call That Resulted in Deputy Involved Shooting. No Deputy Was Injured.
At 8:35 p.m. on Thursday, December 26, 2019, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a woman who said her adult son was schizophrenic, in a combative mood, and in a rage, in their home at 301 Congress Street in unincorporated Auburndale. She told the call taker that her son said if she called 911 he would kill himself. She told the call taker that there was nothing else she could do for him.
A PCSO Sergeant and Deputy Sheriff arrived on the scene, where the son 35-year-old Juan Rosa – was inside his bedroom with the door closed. The deputies announced their presence, and he opened the door, armed with a handgun. He ignored their commands to drop the gun, and pointed it at them. They both fired at the suspect, in fear for their lives. They then administered first aid and Polk Fire Rescue transported him to LRHMC. He succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Standard protocol for all deputy-involved shootings will include four independent investigations. The PCSO homicide unit will conduct a death investigation. PCSO Administrative Investigations will conduct an administrative inquiry. The State Attorney’s Office will conduct a separate investigation. The 10th District Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an investigation to
determine the cause and manner of death.
We will bring you more information as it becomes available.
Individual Attempts to Walk Out of Walmart Without Paying and Pushes Buggy Into Employee and Runs
Release by Winter Haven Police Department:
Well you know when you get one Walmart theft story, another one is bound to follow. (People just love seeing their images on FB, don’t they?)
The guy pictured below entered the Walmart at 355 Cypress Gardens Blvd and proceeded to gather items and place them in his buggy. ($174 worth)
We think you can tell the rest of the story. Yes, walked out of the Garden Center doors – except – he was stopped just outside. He proceeded to push the cart into the Walmart employee and ran.
Know who he is? Recognize him or his car? Call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a CASH reward.
Help Winter Haven Police Department Identify Walmart Backpack and Bike Thief
Release by Winter Haven Police Department:
You know those cameras in the health and beauty aisle at Walmart? They are prominently displayed and are extremely clear! Evidently this guy doesn’t or just doesn’t care!
He went to Walmart (355 Cypress Gardens Blvd) and picked out a nice buggy (guessing he got one that didn’t go clickity clack, clunk, clunk, kerthump, because he cruises up and down the aisles using only one hand. To push the cart that is. He uses both hands selecting items including a backpack to which he proceeds to place all of the items inside. He proceeds out of the doors with said backpack and hops on a brand new bike that he had waltzed out with earlier – you guessed it – without paying.
If you recognize him, contact the Winter Haven Police Department at 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!
Local Church Covers Student Lunch Debt At Lake Wales Schools
Local Church Covers Student Lunch Debt At Lake Wales Schools
by James Coulter
Students at three Lake Wales schools received an early Christmas present last Friday when a local church covered their lunch debt.
On Friday, representatives of First Baptist Church (FBC) of Lake Wales presented checks to the principals of Lake Wales High School and Bok Academy North and South to completely erase the lunch debt of any and all students at those schools.
The pastoral leadership team of FBC became inspired toward this gesture of love after learning of a similar act of kindness carried out by another church in another town. As the pastoral team discussed this possibility, they looked carefully at their budget and calculated that they would have enough to cover the total lunch debt of every child in Lake Wales.
Initially, they considered waiting to do this in conjunction with a service emphasis their church is undertaking in February entitled “I Love Lake Wales.” However, the thought of giving this gift to all the families who had some lunch debt here at Christmastime was too compelling for them to wait.
In explaining why FBC would do this Dr. Scott Markley, senior pastor, stated, “We believe that Jesus Christ paid our sin debt and as we relieve this debt for these students and their families, we hope it will remind them of that grace of God. We wanted to remind them how God loves them.”
Their pastoral team did some research and found that no elementary school students at any school in Lake Wales has lunch debt because any in need receive free lunches through state or federal programs.
As they looked around further, they found that no students at McLaughlin Middle School or Frostproof have any lunch debt for the same reason. However, they did find lunch debt existed at three local schools: Bok Academy North and South, and the largest amount of debt existed at Lake Wales High School.
Due to the faithful giving of their congregation in 2019 and a special “love offering” they receive at Christmas, FBC church leadership determined they could pay all the lunch debt for every student which was in the hundreds of dollars at each school. The monetary gift to the schools covered debts ranging from less than $3 to more than $60, according to Dr. Markley.
Originally, Dr. Markley said, his church was only going to cover the costs of the larger debts. But after giving it much consideration, they decided to cover the small debts, as well.
“The sacrifice of Jesus Christ paid the debts of all sins, so we wanted to pay all of them,” he said. “The Lord gave people a fresh start in life, so we wanted to give these families a fresh start for the New Year to remind them of that.”
As Dr. Markley spoke of sharing about this decision with the FBC family on the coming Sunday, he stated, “Our church loves the community, so I think everyone will be so excited that we can do this by the grace of God. We love our city, and we are always looking for ways to show the love of Christ in our community.”
“Lake Wales High School has more than 1,600 students. Some of them are not able to pay their lunch in full, so gracious donations, such as this, certainly prove helpful,” explained Lake Wales High School Principal Donna Dunson.
She continued, “In anyone’s life, sometimes there is an ebb and flow with financial security. For some of our kids, this [will be] a real boost for them. It is huge! It is absolutley incredible and heartwarming and [reminds us of] the goodness that is the Lake Wales community. I am not surprised by this gesture [by FBC] because they reach out in so many ways, small ways and large ways, and it will help so many kids.”
Haines City Christmas Returns By Popular Demand
Haines City Christmas Returns By Popular Demand
by James Coulter
Once again, Haines City came to life with Christmas cheer as locals lined the streets to watch dozens of holiday-themed floats passed by during the annual Haines City Christmas Parade.
The parade started at Live Oak Avenue and C Street, traveled along Ledwith Avenue, and ended at 6th Street and Wood Avenue near the Lake Eva Aquatic Center parking lot.
The parade featured several dozen entries from various local organizations, businesses, churches, and schools, including floats, marching bands, and dance performances.
Attending for the first time this year were congregation members from St. Ann Catholic Church, who participated in the parade with a traveling nativity, featuring everything from traveling wise men, shepherds, and angels.
“Our parish marched in the Haines City Christmas Parade for the First time,” they wrote on Facebook. “We had so much fun and represented our parish proudly. Thank you to all that helped and participated. God bless you.”
Also participating in the parade were several local city and county officials and representatives from local offices, including the city council and town hall, fire and rescue services, and, of course, the Polk County Sheriff’s Department—including the honorable Sheriff Grady Judd himself!
Several other local businesses and organizations participated within the parade, including Max 98.3, Kids Academy Learning Center, and Haines City Relay for Life.
Local dance schools and groups, marching bands, and cheerleading squads also participated this year to help rally attendees with Christmas cheer. The Northeast Rattlers conducted several cheers and stunts, while the Studio C School Of Dance performed a lively dance number to “Hot Chocolate” from the animated movie “Polar Express.”
27-year-old Amazon Driver Arrested For Theft Caught On Camera, Despite No Cooperation From Amazon
27-year-old Amazon Driver Arrested For Theft Caught On Camera, Despite No Cooperation From Amazon
For video, go here: http://bit.ly/34X3kRV
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the Watersong Resort development near Davenport where the homeowner reported that a package from Amazon was stolen from his front porch. The package was delivered on December 19, 2019 according to his Amazon account information, but there was no package when he got home. The homeowner pulled up his surveillance video covering the front door and saw the Amazon delivery driver deliver the package, take a delivery confirmation photo, and then remove the package.
Because this porch pirate was an employee of Amazon, detectives believed, this would be easy to solve—good for the Sheriff’s Office, the homeowner, and Amazon—getting a dishonest employee off the road.
Not so fast. When detectives contacted Amazon in person at their logistics center, Amazon employees would not cooperate.
“You need a subpoena,” multiple Amazon managers told Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives. Even Amazon’s loss prevention manager told a detective to get a subpoena—that Amazon would not cooperate with law enforcement and identify their driver unless the Sheriff’s Office served a subpoena for their records at their corporate headquarters in Delaware. This is despite detectives having video, pictures, and the date, time, and the address of the delivery and crime.
The homeowner and the community’s security team were the only reason why detectives were able to identify and arrest 27-year-old Jose Campos of 3240 Ibis Ct., Kissimmee. The homeowner provided the video which recorded the theft and security at Watersong Resort provided the tag of the Amazon driver’s vehicle. Detectives ran the tag and it came back to Campos’ girlfriend in Kissimmee. Detectives contacted her and she told them her boyfriend uses the car to deliver packages for Amazon. We then interviewed Jose Campos. He confirmed he was delivering for Amazon at the time. He also said that yes, it was him in the video. Campos was arrested and charged with burglary and theft.
“I’m not surprised by much anymore, but this lack of cooperation from Amazon floors me. All we needed was a name—they knew who committed this crime in Polk County, and they would not tell us without us serving legal process to their corporate headquarters in Delaware. This is just irresponsible on their part. They apparently don’t care about the ongoing safe and secure delivery of their packages to their customers and exposing other customers to burglary and theft. It is impossible to believe this was this guy’s only theft.” –Grady Judd, Sheriff
Lakeland Police Department is Investigating a Murder Suicide in Lakeland
LAKELAND, FL (December 25, 2019) – On Tuesday, December 24, 2019, at approximately 5:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence on Atlanta Avenue in reference to shots fired. Once on scene, officers found three adult victims with gunshot wounds. All three victims were declared deceased at the scene by responding emergency medical professionals.
The preliminary investigation indicates that Leighton Josephs, age 30, was armed with a handgun when he entered the home and shot the male and female inside. It is believed that after shooting the two victims, Josephs then committed suicide. The female victim was 30 years old, and the male victim, 27 years old. Detectives believe that both victims are known to Josephs.
Inside the home, officers found four children, all under the age of 10 years old. The children were not injured and were safely removed from the residence. Officers immediately began working to make arrangements for the safe care of the children.
We will not be releasing the names of the victims or children in accordance with Marsy’s law.
This remains an open and active investigation. If anyone as any additional information related to this case, please contact Detective Laura Dunn at [email protected] or 863.834.6974.
Our agency has received a number of inquiries from the community, requesting to make donations for the children. Detectives will be working with the families to establish a means for the community to assist the children in the coming days. That information will be distributed as soon as we have additional details.
Around 7:30 p.m. on December 25, 2019, the PCSO Traffic Unit Responded To A Three-Vehicle Crash On Lunn Road in Lakeland
Around 7:30 p.m. on December 25, 2019, the PCSO Traffic Unit responded to a three-vehicle crash on Lunn Road in Lakeland, near Cherry Lane. One suspect was arrested for DUI.
Preliminary details are as follows:
A grey 2018 Dodge Journey SUV and a grey 2013 Dodge Charger were both heading westbound on Cherry Lane. The Journey was behind the Charger. The Journey moved over into the eastbound lane in an attempt to pass the Charger when for unknown reasons, the Charger sped up, impeding the Journey’s ability to pass. Both vehicles were then side-by-side traveling at high rates of speed as they approached the intersection with Lunn Road, which has a stop sign.
As they approached the stop sign, the Journey braked hard and the Charger decelerated. The Journey entered into the intersection, and into the path of a red 2013 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, which was heading southbound on Lunn Road. The truck collided with the passenger door of the Journey, then struck a tree. The Journey struck a telephone pole, then a tree.
Occupants of all three vehicles were wearing their seatbelts. The driver of the Silverado, George Nipper, was arrested for DUI.
Driver of the Journey:
18-year-old Alexis (male) Madrigal of Lakeland; treated and released from LRHMC
Passengers in the Journey:
17-year-old Austin Beck of Lakeland; non-life-threatening injuries at LRHMC
16-year-old Dayton Smith of Plant City; non-life-threatening injuries at LRHMC
16-year-old (he’ll be 17 on 12/30) Diego Torres of Plant City; non-life-threatening injuries at LRHMC
17-year-old Marvin Giron of Mulberry; non-life-threatening injuries at LRHMC
17-year-old Jeremy Garcia of Mulberry; critical injuries at LRHMC
Driver of the Charger:
17-year-old Alex Quiroz of Plant City; treated and released from LRHMC
Passenger in the Charger:
14-year-old Luis Quiroz of Plant City; treated and released from LRHMC
Passenger in Nipper’s truck:
30-year-old Barbara Lambert of Lakeland; non-life-threatening injuries at LRHMC
Excessive speed appears to be a factor – the investigation is ongoing and more charges are pending against the two other drivers. The roadway was closed for approximately 5 hours.
Individual Attempts to Open Coin Machine at Dexter’s Coin Laundry
Release by Winter Haven Police Department
Anyone recognize either of these two?
While inside of Dexter’s Coin Laundry (834 6th St NW), the male entered the bathroom and proceeded to bust through the wall entering the office area. He attempted to open the coin machine, but the coin machine outsmarted him and wouldn’t let him in! He certainly caused significant damage to the wall and the machine. The male is wearing a camouflage ensemble with crocks and a ball cap.
Anyone who recognizes either of these subjects, please contact Detective Bharratt at 863-837-5784.
