Winter Haven American Legion Post 8 Celebrates Centennial At Memorial Day Celebration

Winter Haven

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May 28, 2019

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Winter Haven American Legion Post 8 Celebrates Centennial At Memorial Day Celebration

by James Coulter

For nearly a century, The American Legion, especially Post 8 in Winter Haven, has provided a safe haven for military veterans and other former service members of the U.S. Armed Forces. So it only seemed fitting that Winter Haven’s post would celebrate its centennial during its Memorial Day Celebration on Monday.

More than a 100 Legionnaires and their friends and families gathered on the back patio of the Winter Haven post, located on the shores of Lake Silver, to celebrate the day’s festivities, both in memory of the fallen soilders of wars past and in honor of their post’s centennial celebration.

The day’s event started promptly at noon with the Honor Guard raising the American Flag, setting a memorial wreath in recognition of fallen armed service members, and standing in attention for the gun salute.

The post’s Chaplin, Fran Harper, then offered a prayer in honor of the fallen, along with praise to God for allowing all military members, both active and former, both fallen and living, to have the courage to fight for their country and the freedom its provides it citizens.

“We are here to honor the members of the armed services who died in defense of our nation, from the day of the Revolution, to these days in Iraq and Afghanistan,” she said. “They made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms that we hold so dear…It was only by [God’s] grace and their love they had for this nation that gave them the strength to lay down their lives.”

Mike O’Callaghan, Post Commander, then read a proclamation honoring the service members gathered there that day and offering condolences for those who had given their lives through their service.

“Comrades, on this Memorial Day, let us pledge ourselves a new for patriotic service. Let us make ourselves a friend, a son, a brother, and father of those who will not see those again in mortal flesh,” he said. “Let us grasp with fearless hands the flags that have been nobly borne before, and like those others, planted on the battlefield of righteousness…Let us stand with bowed heads and solemn memory of their heroic debt.”

Following the memorial service, attendees enjoyed a patriotic meal of hamburgers, hot dogs, and other barbecue fixings, as well as enjoyed other entertainment ranging from a live musical performance and a ski show courtesy of the Winter Haven Cypress Gardens Ski Team.

Founded on March 15, 1919, The American Legion is one of the oldest and largest veteran’s organization in the world. Post 8 in Winter Haven was one of the first ten American Legion posts started in Florida. To this day, it remains the fourth largest in the state, O’Callaghan said.

O’Callaghan has been an officer at the post for the past ten years, and a commander for the past five. His position allowed him to proudly attend the National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He and his post oversee more than 100 military funerals per year, as well as provide other programs and services to former military members.

“I appreciate the opportunity to be part of this program,” he said. “I feel very fortunate that I have been a leader.”

Ed McNulty, the Post’s Finance Officer and Captain of the Honor Guard, has been with the organization for the past six years since moving to Winter Haven. A Navy veteran, he served in Vietnam between 1959 and 1961 prior to the war starting.

Since joining six years ago, McNulty has participated within the post’s annual Memorial Day service. He appreciates the camraderie among his fellow service members and veterans, and he hopes that his post will continue to thrive in the near future.

“I love being able to salute the veterans, those who passed, and those who are still here as members of the post,” she said. “We do that as the honor guard with taps being played. We are more of the same, more people being involved here with membership.”

American Legion Post 8 is located at 300 Ave M NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881. For more information, call 863-293-7029, or visit their website at http://americanlegionpost8.org/

Haines City Access Center Celebrates Grand Opening

Haines City

Staff Reporter

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May 28, 2019

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Haines City Access Center Celebrates Grand Opening

by James Coulter

Do you need help paying your medical bills? Buying your prescription medicine? Putting food on the table? Handling a legal problem? Do you want to apply for financial assistance by don’t know how?

If you live in Haines City and you need help handling any of these issues, the city’s new access center will more than help you. No problem! Y si hablas español? No problemo!

The Haines City Access Center is your one-stop shop for help applying for state and federal programs including food stamps, temporary cash assistance, Medicare, Medicaid, and Obamacare. If you require financial assistance, the access center can help you obtain it. Even if you have a problem and don’t know what program to apply for, they can help you with that as well.

Aside from providing all access to federal and state programs, the access center also offers other services including an insurance agency, real estate, and public notary. With both of the people in charge being bilingual, they are capable of helping you in English as well as Spanish.

Their services continue to expand with more and more opportunities to help the local community and their immediate needs. Recently, they even hired a lawyer to help clients with immigration cases, and whose services are available via appointment.

“It is our main target to help people out,” said Eddie Davila, Office Manager and Relator. “To help people who come here so they do not leave with their hands empty. We should be able to give whatever we need to do, we are here to help them out and fulfill their needs. We are more than happy to do that, and we are very proud to help people when we open the door and be able to help.”

Haines City Access Center celebrated the grand opening of its facility on Tuesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Northeast Polk County Chamber of Commerce (formerly the Haines City Chamber).

Davila and his wife, Irma Valentin, who serves as the Independent Benefit Consultant, started their business nearly a year ago from their public office. They had since expanded into their own facility. Some people assumed the new facility was too big, by Davila thought it was perfect, as they expect their services to grow.

“Our primary goal…[is] to provide the needs and cover the necessity of the local community,” he said. “We are going to grow, we are going to go, we are not going to stop here.”

His wife and partner, Valentin also expect their new facility to grow with new services, all the more to help the local community meet their needs by applying for services that they might not have even known about.

“What really inspired us is letting people know it that there is more than they think that is available to them from the state and federal programs,” she said. “We would like to really get in touch with the community and get the sense of what they need. If they need or have any questions regarding benefits available around them, this is the place where they can have answers and apply to those services as well.”

Mary Jane Mruczek, Chamber Membership Coordinator, appreciated such a center being provided within the local community, as their assistance will allow its residents, especially the poorest among them, to achieve a better quality of life, which in turn will help improve the quality of the local area.

“I think it opens a lot to the community,” she said. “I think many times navigating through insurance and things like that, it can be intimidating at times, but I think the warmth that Eddie and Irma have will mean a whole lot, and also them being bilingual will be a very big help within this community. I expect and hope that they flourish and they open more and more of these centers within the area.”

The Haines City Access Center is located at 118 S 10th St, Haines City, FL 33844. For more information, call 407-460-9909, or visit their website at: https://access-office.business.site/

Eight Winter Haven High School Athletes Sign College Letters Of Intent At Signing Ceremony

Winter Haven

Staff Reporter

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May 28, 2019

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Eight Winter Haven High School Athletes Sign College Letters Of Intent At Signing Ceremony

by James Coulter

Winter Haven High School will be sending off eight student athletes to participate in the college athletic programs of their choice now that those students have signed their college letters of intent.

During a student signing ceremony on Thursday afternoon, the eight students gathered within the school gymnasium, where they sat before their families and classmates to sign their letters of intent for their respective university.

By signing these letters, the students are signifying their intent to attend the university and college athletic program of their choice and thus will not be pursuing any other prospective university.

Of the eight students, two will be attending Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, NC; two will be attending Hillsborough Community College in Plant City, FL; two will be attending Warner University in Lake Wales, FL; one will attend Daytona State College in Daytona Beach, FL; and one will attend College of the Siskiyous in Weed, CA. Many of these students have been granted scholarships to pay for their tuition, with their scholarships totaling anywhere from $15,000 to $31,000 per year.

Not only have these student athletes exceled in their respective athletic fields, but also within the classroom. Nearly all of them have achieved an overall GPA of a 3.420, making them some of the best educated student athletes in the county, explained Randy Pritchard, Coach Athletic Director.

“You all have represented yourselves in the correct way,” he told the students during the ceremony. “We are so proud and so humble that we have so many kids here.”

As the school athletic director, Pritchard knows each and every one of these students and their families personally. He has seen them grow both physically and mentally during their school career, and he expects them to continue going strong when they attend college.

“It is unbelievable,” he said. “It is humbling in the same spirit. These kids that you’ve seen…all of them have the exact same frame of mind, which is work hard, be good people, and definetly do what it takes to be good in the classroom.”

Abbygael Ouellette has performed well on the basketball field during her athletic career in high school. With her $15,000 per year scholarship to attend Hillsborough Community College, she expects to continue doing well over there. Even then, she remains humble and acknowledges her success lies with her family and faith in God.

“It feels great knowing that I have somewhere to go where I am going to be used, and I can also get an education,” she said. “I expect to have fun and have a great time and get along with everyone.”

James Long will be joining two of his fellow classmates in attending Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount. He loves visiting North Carolina, and loves it the more that he visits it, which is why he made his decision to attend there.

“Not a lot of people get to do what I am doing right now, so I am just happy that I am doing it,” he said. “I plan to work as hard as I can and make use of my opportunity.”

Tucker Truehard, on the other hand, decided to remain close to home by attending Warner University in Lake Wales. After working hard to make it through high school, he hopes to keep up the good work going to college.

“It feels amazing,” he said. “I feel like I have achieved everything I have ever been doing for all my life, going to school all my life, and now I am finally going to college…I hope to be a better man, to grow up, and do good things.”

The eight student athletes and their colleges of choice are as follows:

Jaylen Doles, Wesleyan College (Rocky Mount, NC)
Abbygael Ouellette, Hillsborough Community College (Plant City, FL)
Osheiauna Pfhifer, Warner University (Lake Wales, FL)
Nisson Altima, College of the Siskiyous (Weed, CA)
Jozhya Dopson, Hillsborough Community College (Plant City, FL)
Tucker Truehard, Warner University (Lake Wales, FL)
James Long, Wesleyan College (Rocky Mount, NC)
Aliyah Woodside, Daytona State College (Daytona Beach, FL)

Lake Wales Man Charged With Burglary with Battery After Allegedly Whipping Man Shooting Gun

Lake Wales

Staff Reporter

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May 24, 2019

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Lake Wales Man Charged With Burglary with Battery After Allegedly Whipping Man Shooting Gun

Lake Wales, Florida – A Lake Wales man, Kolby Shepherd, is facing Burglary with Battery charges after he allegedly struck another man with a whip near Lake Rosalie in Lake Wales on 05/12/2019. According to a Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit an incident occurred between Dewey Carnley Jr., Kolby Shepherd & Kyle Shepherd. Shortly after the incident deputies arrested Kyle Shepard, the brother of Kolby Shepherd, for Attempted Second Degree Murder.

According to reports, Dewey Carnley Jr. was in his back yard shooting at around 8pm on the night of Friday 11,2019, and was confronted by a neighbor, Kolby Shepherd, who told him to not shoot in the park. Dewey informed him that he was only shooting a water moccasin.

Later during the PCSO investigation they did located a dead water snake in the yard. According to reports it was left at that. Then at approximately 2:50am Sunday May 12, 2019, Dewey was out shooting again on his back porch. Kolby Shepherd and his brother Kyle Shepherd went to confront Dewey Jr. again.

During a recorded Post Miranda interview, Kyle Shepherd (co-defendant) allegedly stated that he and his brother (Kolby) had been drinking alcohol at the fish camp and had just returned from the store when they heard more shots being fired. He stated that Kolby grabbed a leather whip type object and was going to go and confront Dewey. Kyle, not wanting his brother to confront an armed subject without protection, removed his AK-47 rifle from his truck and followed his brother over to the patio Dewey Jr’s was shooting. One thing led to another and according to reports, Dewey Jr. shot Kolby for apparently striking him with the whip, Kyle shot Dewey Jr. and also his brother Kolby while retaliating for Dewey Jr. shooting Kolby.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office estimates that Kyle Shepherd fired approximately 20-25 rounds.

According to the affidavit, Dewey Carnley Jr. was interviewed a few days after the incident, after receiving medical attention at the Osceola Regional Medical Center. During the interview Dewey advised that he was alone on the back patio when Kolby walked up from the back yard carrying some sort of stick or whip. He saw a second suspect (Kyle) in the yard holding a rifle. As Kolby approached him he allegedly was struck on the side of the face with the “whip”, As he was struggling to maintain his balance and consciousness he allegedly observed both suspects moving towards him. In fear for his safety he removed the pistol from his holster and fired several shots striking Kolby and sending him stumbling off of the patio deck. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office the “whip” was later recovered. It appears to be the lower half of a coach whip. It was four foot long, ridged, and wrapped in black leather. “Whip” marks were observed and photographed at the hospital.

Kyle is charged with attempted second degree murder. Dewey and Kolby are recovering from gunshot wounds. Kolby Shepherd is being charged with Burglary with Battery for allegedly having unlawfully entered the patio/deck area of the residence and while inside the curtilage of the residence he used the “whip” to batter the victim against his will.

Father Of Deceased Special Needs Child Calls For Better Safety Precautions On School Buses

Polk County

Staff Reporter

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May 23, 2019

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Father Of Deceased Special Needs Child Calls For Better Safety Precautions On School Buses

by James Coulter

A Polk County school bus attendant was caught allegedly abusing six special needs students, including three children. She was accused of snapping these students with rubber bands, hitting them with a seat belt cutter, and leaving welts on one of their faces, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The good news is that the attendant has since been arrested and now faces “three counts of child abuse and three counts of abusing a disabled adult”, according to the Times. The bad news? More neglect and abuse like this will continue to occur unless the Polk County School Board takes serious action.

During a school board meeting earlier this month, one of the mothers of one of the students implored school board members to have the school system better monitor their on-board bus cameras. Most of the students abused were non-verbal, so there was no telling how long many of them had been suffering such abuse.

David Gautney, who lives in Pasco County, also attended and spoke at that evening’s school board meeting. He has been attending every single meeting since his own daughter, Terissa Joy, passed away last year due to negligence at the hands of a bus attendant. Hearing about how another special needs child suffered similar neglect brought back bad memories for him.

“It was horrifying,” he said. “Seeing this incident the other day with these children who were being abused by a driver’s assistant, it just brought it [bad memories] all back again.”

His daughter, Terissa, was wheelchair bound with cerebral palsy. He decided to send her to Victory Ridge Academy so that she could utilize a revolutionary AI gaze communication device at the school. As such, she rode the Polk County school bus between her mother’s home in Bartow and her school.

On Feb. 28, 2018, on her way to school, her wheelchair was not properly restrained and her seat belt was not properly installed. This allowed her to fall forward and get her head pinned behind the headrest of her chair.

The school bus attendant, who was sitting in front of Terissa, did not even notice that she was suffocating. The attendant was busy looking at her phone, and four minutes passed until she finally heard Terissa gasping for breath and turned to see her in distress, Gautney said.

The bus driver called for a dispatch, only to be put on hold four to five different times. Twenty minutes passed until an ambulance finally arrived, but by then, it was nearly too late. Terissa was transferred to the hospital, where she was placed on life support, but later taken off due to lack of brain activity.

Even worse, the outdoor camera of the bus had spotted an ambulance pass around the same time the dispatch had been placed, so there was an emergency vehicle in the immediate vicinity, Gautney said.

Gautney was depressed at the passing of his daughter and infuriated at what he saw as ineptitude of the bus attendant and driver. Both claimed that they were unable to properly lift her; but as his daughter only weighed 60 pounds, Gautney felt that both of them were capable of lifting her.

Both had also claimed they did not know how to get her out of her seatbelt. As a state-certified school bus inspector for Pasco County, Gautney knew that all school buses are required to have a seat belt cutter in case of such emergencies. Without one, the bus cannot legally operate, he explained.

“All my daughter had to do was pick her head up and she would still be here,” he said. “All that [attendant] had to do was pick her head up. She would have started breathing again. She would have been fine. She would still be here today…[but] they did nothing to assist my daughter. Absolutely nothing.”

Gautney feels there needs to be better hiring practices for such positions. Not only should better quality people be hired, but they should all be required to be CPR-certified.

“You can’t even open a home daycare center without being CPR-certified. Why we let people hire [other] people to assist special needs students on a school bus, and they don’t have to have anything. It is beyond comprehension to me some time,” he said. “They need to be CPR-certified, and if they are not willing to do these things, then they are not the right person to begin with.”

Since his daughter’s death, Gautney has been in contact with both Mark Egger, the Deputy Director of Finance with the Florida Department of Education, and Kelli Stargel, Florida State Senator for District 22. Stargel especially has been inspired by the incident to create and pass the Terissa Joy Act, which would help increase safety precautions on school buses for special needs students.

One precaution that Gautney feels needs to be implemented is a better emergency dispatch system with a panic button. In Pasco County, where he works, all the buses are required to have radio systems capable of providing dispatches to fire, police, and EMS at the same time.

Until then, he will continue to stand and fight alongside other parents to ensure that such safety precautions are implemented so that what happened to his daughter will never happen to any other student.

“I think the more [this problem] is brought out, the more recognition we give, the more chance we have to keep someone with having to deal with this,” he said. “I think they need to be at least CPR certified and perform more extensive background checks, and to equip each bus with an emergency radio system.”

Both Mark Eggers and Kelli Stargel were reached for comment on the proposed legislation. Neither have been able to respond.

Kids Academy Learning Center Celebrates Diversity With Week Of Nations

Haines City

Staff Reporter

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May 23, 2019

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Kids Academy Learning Center Celebrates Diversity With Week Of Nations

by James Coulter

What do Angel Falls in Venezuela, Castillo San Cristóbal in Puerto Rico, and the Eiffel Tower in France all have in common? They’re all exotic sights you can see when traveling abroad. You can also check out these sights at Kids Academy Learning Center Inc/USA in Haines City.

To celebrate the last week of school, as well as to honor the diverse cultural backgrounds of their student body, Kids Academy Learning Center is hosting Week of Nations to teach its students about different countries around the world.

Each of the 17 classrooms within the facility are decorated after different countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Japan, Equador, Venezuela, Columbia, and France, as well as different U.S. states and territories like Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Each teacher within that classroom is also teaching their students about the different aspect of those countries. For example, the classroom decorated like Venezuela has a model of Angel Falls outside, and is teaching about the four seasons experienced in that country.

Both Iris Padilla and Marisa Cieri, the two owners of the school and daycare facility, are both from Venezuela themselves, so they take special pride in that particular classroom, Padilla explained.

At the end of the week on Friday, the children will be treated to a special international lunch where their teachers will prepare a meal with food from the different countries their classrooms are decorated as. For example, the Japanese classroom will be treated to Japanese noodles.

Kids Academy Learning Center Inc./USA teaches and facilitates more than 300 students from infancy to kindergarten with programs and services ranging from daycare, after school programs, and pre-K. Many of these students come from families from different countries in South and Central America, Asia, and Europe.

As someone from another country herself, Padilla felt that teaching children to learn about other cultures, as well as appreciate their own native cultures, are very important, which is why she organized this special week.

In a time when immigration and foreign relations remain controversial topics, such a celebration of the American Melting Pot of different cultures are needed now more than ever to teach children that diversity is our strength, as Padilla explained.

“The first thing we want them to know is that we all come from different countries, but we all are the same,” she said. “We have so many children from different countries, from everywhere…that is why we decided to do that, to make sure everyone knows about the different countries that we are around all the time.”

Kids Academy Learning Center Inc. will be hosting its graduation ceremony on Wed., May 29 at 6 p.m. The facility will also be offering Free Summer VPK from June 10 through August 5. To learn more, call 863-353-6823, or visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Kids-Academy-Learning-Center-Inc-209606449630566/

School Children Encouraged To “Be Cool, Not Cruel” At Red Ribbon Rallies By InnerAct Alliance

Polk County

Staff Reporter

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May 22, 2019

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School Children Encouraged To “Be Cool, Not Cruel” At Red Ribbon Rallies By InnerAct Alliance
by James Coulter

Famous African American athlete Wilma Rudolph faced many obstacles in her life. She could barely walk. She was required to wear a metal brace on her left leg. She was born into a poor family of 22 other children. And as a black woman, she grew up in a time when black people did not have the same rights and opportunities as white people.

Even then, despite all of the obstacles facing her through her life, she managed to overcome these hurdles in leaps and bounds to become a great athletic runner. Not only did she attend the 1960 Olympics, but she also won three gold medals in track and field. This made her the first African American woman to achieve such a feat.

Patrick Grady, a local motivational speaker, had read about Rudolph during a book report back in elementary school. Her story resonated with him, and continues to do so even to this day, which is why he shared the story during an anti-drug rally on Monday morning for Winter Haven students.

Standing before a crowd of fifth and sixth graders from five local schools gathered within the auditorium of Heartland Church, Grady shared the story of the great African American female athlete to encourage them in their own lives and endeavors.

“She had a lot of obstacles in front of her…but Wilma Rudolph chose not to be a victim,” he said. “She chose to work hard. She chose to overcome those challenges. She surrounded herself with people who helped her succeed…Wilma was never the victim. She was the victor…Success is hard to find, but it is taking ownership of our future.”

Grady shared these motivational words of wisdom during the Red Ribbon Rally school field trip event in Winter Haven, hosted by InnerAct Alliance on Monday morning. The event was held to help encourage students moving onto middle school to remain motivated in their life and studies, as well as to avoid peer pressure concerning alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and bullying.

Grady told students that they should do everything in their power to avoid falling into peer pressure, even if it meant acting as silly as they could. Through a humorous performance that elicited bouts of wild laughter from the young audience members, he demonstrated many ways to act crazy in order to have people avoid pressuring them into bad situations.

He advised them that if they were to attend a party, rather than settling for any drink, to take the biggest cup or mug they could find and fill it with milk. If people ask them if they want alcohol, they can decline, saying they have the “original white lightning: mmmmmmmilk!”

“I thought it went really well,” said Angie Ellison, Executive Director of InnerAct Alliance. “The kids were very receptive. Patrick is real amazing. He can have them eating out of his hand, or all excited hitting the ceiling.”

Monday’s event was one of two other hosted that week. The second one was hosted in Lakeland on Wednesday morning. More than five schools attended the Monday rally, and seven or eight attending the Lakeland rally, Ellison said.

InnerAct Alliance, formerly the Drug Prevention Resource Center, is a local non-profit organization which, since 1985, has been helping to spread awareness and education on substance abuse prevention in Polk County. As their website states, their mission is “to reduce the abuse and underage use of harmful substances along with involvement in other risky behaviors through: Community Awareness and Involvement; Prevention Education; Economic Support; and Leadership Development.”

For the past 35 years, InnerAct Alliance has been hosting these Red Ribbon Rallies at the end of every school year to help encourage students moving onto middle school next year to avoid substance abuse, bullying, and other problems they may face growing up. As one of the speakers that day mentioned, all substance abuse and bullying is 100 percent preventable, so children should choose to “be cool, not cruel.”

Since InnerAct’s inception in 1985, substance abuse and other risky behavior among young people has seen a drastic decline. According to a recent study from psychologists Jean Twenge and Heejung Park, as reported in Business Insider, more young people these days are avoiding alcohol, drugs, and sex than ever before.

“The belief out there that there is a big negative peer pressure group,” Ellison said. “As you watched, most of these kids were saying no, and were enthusiastic about saying no to drugs. So we are really trying to bond them as a positive peer group that will help each other stay away from negative peer pressure.”

Andrea Miles, a prevention specialist with InnerAct since October, has see a similar resolve with the students she works with, and she credits this behavior to the hard work of organizations such as InnerAct.

“[InnerAct] is a superb organization, highly commited, [and]…involved and affecting the best and wanting the best for our children,” she said.

Aside from hearing from speakers, the attending students also received awards for essay, poster, and poetry contests they had participated in at school. Overall, more than 1,500 students participated in these contests throughout the county. The winning students and school honored that day were as follows:

Poster Contest

1st Place ($100): Ana Victoria Gudalupe, Loughman Oaks
2nd Place ($50): Valerie Nunez, Alta Vista
3rd Place ($25): Marley Wright, Davenport School of the Arts
Honorable Mentions: Levi McAdam, Auburndale Central; Daxx Hood, Lena Vista

Poetry Contest

1st Place ($100): Jayden Nieves, Loughman Oaks
2nd Place ($50): Sammy Parker, Davenport School of the Arts
3rd Place ($25): Alyssa Ramessar, Alta Vista
Honorable Mentions: Maya Smith, Lena Vista; Kiaria Johnson, Auburndale Central

Essay Contest

1st Place ($100): Angelina Quinones, Lena Vista
2nd Place ($50): Zamyria Burr, Alta Vista
3rd Place ($25): Kaleb Brown, Loughman Oaks
Honorable Mentions: Oscar Ramirez, Auburndale; Morgan Watts, Davenport School of the Arts

School with Most Participants Overall
Lena Vista

Bartow Police Responed to Summerlin Academy Today in Reference to an Accidental Shooting

Bartow

Staff Reporter

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May 21, 2019

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Bartow Police Responed to Summerlin Academy Today in Reference to an Accidental Shooting

Bartow Police Department Press Release:

Bartow Police Department Officers responded to Summerlin Academy today in reference to an accidental shooting. At approximately 4:10pm today, Amel Villarreal Jr, DOB 8/6/79, sat in his vehicle in the visitor’s parking lot at Summerlin Academy. He was waiting to pick up a family member who was still on campus after school hours. While waiting in his vehicle, Mr. Villarreal removed a concealed firearm from his waistband to secure it in an interior vehicle compartment. During this action, Mr. Villarreal accidentally discharged the firearm, striking himself in the right leg. He was later transported to the hospital for medical treatment. Mr. Villarreal is in stable condition.

No students were involved in this incident and it occurred after school hours. Bartow Police Detectives are investigating this incident and criminal charges are pending.

UPDATE on Hwy 27 Accident In Lake Wales

Lake Wales

Staff Reporter

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May 21, 2019

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UPDATE on Hwy 27 Accident

PCSO Press Release:

LOCATION OF INCIDENT: 25000 Block of US 27, Lake Wales, FL Approximately ¼ Mile South of Waverly Road

DRIVER (1): Nancy Rote Vanroo, of Winter Haven, FL, DOB: 05/09/1931; Blunt Force Trauma, Lakeland Regional Health, Critical condition

DRIVER (2) Mary Abigail Bryant of Frostproof, FL; W/F; AGE: 37; no injuries

PASS(V2P1) Vernon Burnell Bryant II of Frostproof, FL; W/M; AGE: 36; DOB: 05/28/1982; Bruises/Abrasions; Lake Wales Medical Center; Good condition

PASS(V2P2) Elliot Bryant; Frostproof, FL; Age: 1 no injuries

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: V1- 2008, White Mercury 4-ddor Sedan, FL Tag BPYV39

V2- 2010, Gold Toyota 4-door Sedan, FL Tag CDWW12

On 05/21/2019, at approximately 1059 hours, the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a call regarding a multi-vehicle crash with injuries on US Highway 27 near Waverly Road, Lake Wales. Fire/Medics, Lake Wales Police, and Southeast District Patrol responded to renter aid. The driver of Vehicle 1, Nancy Vanroo, had life threatening head injuries and was flown to Lakeland Regional Health as a trauma alert. A passenger in Vehicle 2, Vernon Bryant, was transported to Lake Wales Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The driver Mary Bryant and their 1 year child, Elliot Bryant, were not injured and remained on scene.

Southeast District Patrol secured the scene and routed traffic around the crash site. Members of the Traffic Homicide Unit responded to investigate due to the seriousness of the crash. Crime Scene also responded to photograph the scene and collect evidence. FDOT was contacted and set up cones around the scene.

US 27 in the area of the crash is a 6 lane north/south highway with a 60 mph speed limit. It has a grass median and shoulders. There is an entrance road on the east side of US 27 for vehicles going to the pediatric office. There is a turn lane on the east shoulder for this entrance. There is a stop sign for vehicles exiting the office. The sign was sheared off during the crash. FDOT was made aware of the sign.

Witness statements and evidence at the scene indicate that Vehicle 1, a 2008 White Mercury Sedan, was northbound on US 27 in the left (inside) lane approximately ¼ mile south of Waverly Road. For unknown reasons, Driver 1, Nancy Vanroo, lost control and began to rotate clockwise as her vehicle travelled northeast across the center and right lanes. She exited the lanes of travel at the entrance to the Sunrise Pediatrics located at 25103 US 27. Vehicle 2, a 2010 Gold Toyota sedan, was stopped, facing west, in order to exit the pediatric Office. It was driven by Mary Bryant, with Vernon Bryant as the right front passenger and Elliot Bryant as the right rear passenger (In a rear facing car seat). As Vehicle 1 exited the roadway it struck the front of Vehicle 2 causing significant front end damage to the Toyota. Vehicle 1 continued in a northeast direction exiting the right (east) shoulder, striking a stop sign. It then entered into a shallow ditch, began to flip, striking a fire hydrant and a palm tree. Vehicle 1 came to final rest approximately 75 feet northeast of the location it left the roadway, facing south. It suffered significant damage over the entire vehicle with portions of the roof collapsed. Vehicle 2 remained in place, but rotated clockwise 120 degrees, facing northeast.

The airbags in both vehicles deployed and all the occupants were seat belted. The one year old was secured in a rear facing child seat and was not injured.

Driver 2 was evaluated by a DUI unit with no signs of impairment noted. There were no initial signs of impairment for Driver 1, pending blood alcohol/toxicology testing. Distracted driving and excessive speed are not suspected on the part of either driver. The investigation is ongoing.

US 27 northbound was reduced to one lane for approximately an hour and a half and two lanes for an hour. All lanes were re-opened after approximately 2.5 hours.

Ms. Vanroo was out of surgery and in critical/stable condition.

Mr. Bryant was treated for chest pain and later released.

154 Arrested During Six-Day Undercover Operation as Polk County Sheriff’s Office Targets Prostitution and Human Trafficking

Staff Reporter

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May 21, 2019

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154 Arrested During Six-Day Undercover Operation as Polk County Sheriff’s Office Targets Prostitution and Human Trafficking

PCSO Press Release:

Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit completed a six-day undercover operation on Sunday, May 19, 2019, in which they posted and responded to ads soliciting prostitution. Detectives attempted to identify victims of human trafficking in prostitution. The operation, which started on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 culminated with the arrests of 154 people.

Two females have been identified as likely to be victims of human trafficking; one a 17-year-old and one a 23-year-old. Both had criminal charges. A 17-year-old boy who travelled to the undercover location was not charged with any crimes, but is being considered a victim of human trafficking. All three have been offered services with the One More Child organization, and the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is also involved.

Assisting the Sheriff’s Office in the effort were officers from police departments in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Haines City.

Two other men were arrested for travelling to meet a minor for sex and other charges.

“The primary goal in operations like this is to find victims of human trafficking who are being manipulated into prostitution. Prostitution is also a public safety issue involving the spread of diseases, the use of and dealing in illegal drugs, and other criminal activity that is associated with prostitution. It should be well-known by now that Polk County is not a good place to be involved with prostitution, thanks to operations such as this.” –Grady Judd, Sheriff.

The suspects arrested ranged in age between 17 and 69 years old.

Of the 154 suspects arrested:

69 were prostitutes
75 were “johns,” or those who solicited to pay for prostitution
8 others were arrested for related charges, such as deriving proceeds from prostitution
2 were arrested for traveling to meet a minor
30 are married
8 were on public assistance
5 are in the country illegally

In all, detectives filed 46 felony charges and 202 misdemeanor charges against the suspects. Among the 154 suspects, there were a total of 567 previous felonies and 695 previous misdemeanor charges in their criminal histories.

Some of the arrests include:

34-yr old James Michels of Tampa, FL initiated text conversation with an undercover detective posing as a 14-yr old male. Michels said several times that he was disease-free and wanted unprotected anal sex with the boy and described how he liked to teach “newbies.” During a post-arrest interview, he admitted to travelling to “see some kid,” bringing lubrication, and having child pornography on his cell phone. Michels informed detectives that he has HIV. Michels was initially charged with Traveling to Meet a Minor (F2) as well as Misrepresenting Age via Computer to Lure A Minor (F2), Lewd Battery (F2), Failure to Notify of HIV (F-3), and Use 2-Way Communication to Lure a Minor (F3). A forensic examination of Michels’ phone revealed 50 images and over 100 videos of child pornography, including the sexual battery of a boy between 12 and 36 months. Michels was additionally charged with 200 counts of Possession of Child Pornography.

55-yr old Warren Smith of Riverview, FL engaged in conversation on social media with an undercover detective whom he thought was a 14-yr old boy. Smith was very aggressive in his pursuit of the 14-yr old and explicitly described the acts he wanted to perform on the boy to include oral sex. Smith also directly asked the boy if he was able to “host” or have company over. Smith showed up at the undercover location and was arrested. Post-arrest, Smith stated that he is married and frequently travels to meet various men to engage in sex acts (although he said this was his first time arranging to meet a minor). He was charged with Traveling to Meet after Using Computer to Entice a Child (F2), Lewd Battery (F2), and Unlawful Use of Communication Device (F3).

17-yr old girl from Pinellas County, FL posted an advertisement online offering escort services. She agreed to travel to the undercover location to engage in a half hour of protected sexual intercourse in exchange for $150. At the location, she offered to sell the detective a baggy of marijuana for an additional $20. Detectives learned the girl was listed as a runaway from Hillsborough County. As a result, she was only charged with Possession of Marijuana (M1) and Paraphernalia Possession (M1) due to her status of a minor involved in prostitution. She was transported to JAC.

25-yr old Antonio Wilson of St. Petersburg, FL posted an advertisement online offering escort services. Wilson agreed to travel to the undercover location to engage in protected sexual intercourse in exchange for $100. In addition, Wilson travelled with two other males (Michael Mitchell and a juvenile male) to also engage in sex for an additional $100 each. The juvenile was transported by detectives to the George Harris Youth Shelter. Upon Wilson’s arrest, he revealed he is a before and after-school child care worker at North Short Elementary School in Pinellas County. He was caught with brass knuckles and was charged with Carrying a Concealed Weapon (F3), in addition to Contributing to Delinquency of a Minor (M1), and Offering to Commit Prostitution (M2).

40-yr old Mahasin Valentine of Lakeland posted an advertisement online offering escort services. She agreed to travel to the undercover location to meet with an undercover detective where they further discussed her engaging in straight sex in exchange for $100. Subsequent to her arrest, a search of her car revealed a 9-yr old boy along with a male companion. When questioned further, Valentine stated the man lived in the same hotel as her, but the boy was not familiar with him. DCF was contacted and responded to the scene and took custody of the child. Valentine was charged with Child Endangerment (F3) and Offering to Commit Prostitution (M1).

28-yr old Pedro Annulysse of Santa Rosa Beach, FL responded to an online advertisement offering escort services posted online by an undercover detective. Annulysse grabbed the detective and gave her the $120 and was subsequently arrested. Post-arrest, detectives learned Annulysse is enlisted in the US Army as a Staff Sergeant Recruiter assigned to Panama City. He also told detectives he was here on vacation visiting LEGOLAND with his wife and children, whom he left at the hotel to travel to the undercover location.

30-yr old Camilo Valencia of Lakeland responded to an online advertisement posted by an undercover detective. After agreeing to travel to the undercover location, Valencia solicited the detective to perform oral sex on him as well as have protected vaginal sex in exchange for $50. During the course of conversation, Valencia grabbed the undercover detective’s breast. Valencia was subsequently arrested and charged with Battery (M1) and Soliciting Another to Commit Prostitution (M1). At the time of his arrest, Valencia was employed by the Polk County School Board as a custodian at the Kathleen High School Aerospace Academy.

38-yr old Robert Miranda of Melbourne, FL responded to an online advertisement posted by an undercover detective. Miranda wanted to give the detective $100 to dance and perform oral sex on him, and an additional $100 to engage in full sexual intercourse. He stated he was high on cocaine and would bring some additional cocaine so he could party all night with her. After arriving at the undercover location, Miranda gave the money as described and poured some cocaine on a table which he intended to snort, but was interrupted by other detectives. Miranda was charged with Possession of Cocaine (F3), Soliciting Another for Prostitution (M1), and Paraphernalia Possession (M1).

28-yr old Josefina Powers of Lake Wales posted an advertisement online offering escort services and ultimately agreed to engage in protected intercourse in exchange for $200 (of which $50 was to cover her ride). Because she was arrested in 2017 during a previous PCSO undercover operation, Powers was charged this time with Offering to Commit Prostitution-2nd offense (M1).

Detectives made contact with Powers’ driver, 35-year old Billy Ray Lemay of Lake Wales, who has a suspended driver’s license. He was found in possession of a baggie of Methamphetamine and a digital scale. Powers was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine (F3), Possession of Paraphernalia (M1), Aid/Abet Prostitution (M2), and Transporting for Prostitution (M2).

43-yr old Manuel Rivera of Tampa, FL responded to an advertisement online posted by an undercover detective requesting to engage in protected sex in exchange for $80. Rivera grabbed the detective and was also found to be in possession of a concealed handgun. Rivera was charged with Carrying Concealed Firearm (F3), Battery (M1), and Solicit Another to Engage in Prostitution (M1).

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