Lewis Family Cancer Fund “Swings For The Cure” For Tenth Year

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April 30, 2019

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Lewis Family Cancer Fund “Swings For The Cure” For Tenth Year

by James Coulter

Josh Lewis and his family are all too familiar with cancer. His mother passed away from cancer when he was a young boy back in 1987, and his brother passed away a few years ago in 2015.

As someone who has seen his loved ones struggle with and inevitably succumb to the disease, Lewis knows about the emotional toll that cancer can take upon a family.

This is why he and his family try to help others through their personal struggle with cancer through their organization, The Lewis Family Cancer Fund.

For the past decade, their fund has financed their endeavors through their annual charity golf tournament, “Swing For The Cure”, and their preliminary kickoff cocktail party, both of which celebrated their tenth year this weekend.

The cocktail party was hosted at Nora Mayo Hall in Winter Haven on Friday evening, allowing attendees to enjoy a buffet of good eats ranging from cocktail shrimp and beef tenderloin to southwest eggrolls, all while listening to live music performed by Jill’s Cashbox.

Throughout the evening, guests could donate as much money as they could to the fund through various activities including a silent auction, live auction, and raffle ticket giveaways, placing their bets on prizes ranging from a “bucket of cheer” to a lunch with the honorable Sheriff Grady Judd.

The festivities continued the very next day at the Southern Dunes Golf And Country Club in Haines City, where participants could see who has the best golf swing with the Saturday Scramble Golf Tournament.

Each and every year has seen a great turnout from the community, with local benefactors more than willing to donate their time and money toward a good cause, especially one that helps treat local and regional cancer patients, Lewis said.

“The turnout is fantastic,” he said. “This is typical of what we have. We are very fortunate to have the support of so many people in the community, and year after year, it has been one big success.”

Lewis and his brother, Geoffrey, lost their mother to cancer in 1987. He was ten years old, and his brother was eleven.

Since they both loved golf, their father decided to cheer them up following their mother’s death nearly two weeks later by taking them to see a golf tournament in Orlando.

This particular tournament was being participated by their favorite golfer, Fuzzy Zoeller, whom the two young boys had the opportunity to meet through their father.

Zoeller used the opportunity to sign some autographs, take some pictures, and even invited the two boys to watch him play a few rounds of golf the very next day. What followed was a friendship that has lasted long even to this day.

“I caught wind of them because I met their dad, Bill, and he asked if I could do anything special for them,” Zoeller said. “I told them to bring the boys in and let them walk with us during the round of golf, and that is how it all got started.”

Twenty years later, cancer would once again strike their family, as Geoff was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. Two years later, he approached his brother and discussed ways they could help their community combat this menace of a disease.

The two decided to start The Lewis Family Cancer Fund. Since they both loved golf, they could think of no better way to raise funds for their organization than through a charity golf tournament, especially with the help of their golfer friend, Lewis said.

Geoff later passed away in 2015, though he managed to live several years longer than what the doctors had initially expected of him, Lewis said. Even though his brother has long passed, his passion towards fighting the disease continues to live on through their fund and fundraiser.

“I think a lot of people looked up to my brother and his fight,” Lewis said. “There are so many people who have been affected by cancer, a lot of people can relate, and they want to do something to keep the money local, so the fact that the money they know where it is going locally and regionally is a big help…and that is what has allowed this to keep going.”

Ever since their fundraiser started ten years ago, Zoeller has more than willingly helped with the event and participated within it in honor of his lifelong friends, in both life and death.

“I am very, very happy to be a part of this, because they are family to us,” he said. “We love the people. The people make it all. They are the ones who make it happen. It is a great little community we live in here. The people are the ones who make the fund as great as it is.”

The Lewis Family Cancer Fund has helped facilitate many cancer patients within the local community, especially those within Winter Haven Hospital. Holly Wollery, a representative with the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation, which has beenassociated with the fund for two years, attests to how it has helped facilitate the hospital and its Women’s Hospital Breast Imaging Center.

“We are grateful for everything the fund does for our community,” Wollery said. “We appreciate how passionate their family is about raising money to support cancer research and cancer equipment here to better patients and those who are affected by that in their lives.”

Sheriff Judd Holds Nothing Back Against “Liberal Criminal Justice System” After Arrest Of 12 People For Child Pornography

Staff Reporter

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April 30, 2019

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Sheriff Judd Holds Nothing Back Against “Liberal Criminal Justice System” After Arrest Of 12 People For Child Pornography

Timothy Cottenham

Jesse Whitehead

Marc Burzynski

Jerome Lingenfelter

Katie Butler

Jesse Butler

Brian Birky

Sheriff Judd describes how a sexual predator who molested two children only spent 2 years in prison and now is arrested for multiple counts of child pornography.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

From February to April 2019, Polk County Sheriff’s Computer Crimes detectives served search warrants and made 12 arrests during “Operation Guardians of Innocence III” which focused on identifying and arresting those involved in the possession, promotion, and distribution of child pornography. A total of 640 felonies were filed against the suspects, with more charges pending.

“This investigation is still ongoing – once we serve search warrants and seize the devices that these suspects are using to download and distribute pornography, we will do a complete forensic analysis, and in all likelihood we will be adding on more charges related to the felony possession and distribution of images and videos of children being sexually battered. Four of the 12 suspects we arrested have criminal histories involving sex crimes against children – further demonstrating there is a correlation between those who view child pornography and those who sexually abuse children.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

A search warrant was executed at 3535 Red Oak Court in Lake Wales, where 49-year-old Richard Parr lives. Detectives received a National Center for Missing and Endangered Children (NCMEC) tip that child pornography files were being uploaded by a computer user at that address. Detectives responded to the home and talked with Parr, who admitted that the computer equipment was his. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims between the ages of 5 and 15 years old. They seized the equipment for further analysis. Parr was a firefighter employed by Polk County Fire Rescue – he resigned upon his arrest. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with:
22 counts possession of child pornography – enhanced (F-2)

A search warrant was executed at a residence in Winter Haven, where 36-year-old Wade Menard’s mother lives. Detectives received a tip that child pornography files were being downloaded by a computer user at that address, on Sundays. Detectives responded to the home and talked with Menard’s mother, who admitted Wade visits every Sunday, and that he set up her computer server and uses it when he’s there. Wade was previously arrested by PCSO in 2009 for lewd and lascivious molestation on a victim under 12, and served three years in state prison. He’s a registered sexual predator and is currently serving 15 years’ probation. He was arrested in 2018 for failure to register. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as 2 years old. They seized the equipment for further analysis. Wade Menard works at Computer Plus in Winter Haven, where detectives made contact with him. He admitted to setting up the computer server at his mother’s house, and using it when he visits each Sunday. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with:
33 counts possession of child pornography – enhanced (F-2)
1 count promotion of child pornography (F-2)
1 count VOP lewd/lascivious conduct (F-2)
1 count VOP failure to register (M-2)

A search warrant was executed at 613 Chicago Way in Dundee, where 32-year-old Timothy Cottenham II lives with his parents. Detectives received a tip that someone at the residence was uploading child pornography. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as 2-4 years old. They seized the equipment for further analysis. Detectives interviewed Cottenham, who admitted to downloading child pornography since he was 17 years old. He is employed at a car dealership in Winter Haven in the shipping and parts department. He was taken into custody and charged with:
100 counts possession of child pornography – enhanced (F-2)

A search warrant was executed at 827 2nd Lake Ida Street in Winter Haven, where 42-year-old Owen “David” Yates lives with his mother. Detectives received a tip that child pornography files were being downloaded by a computer user at that address. Detectives responded to the home and talked with Yates, who admitted that the computer equipment was his. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as 4 years old. They seized the equipment for further analysis. Yates told detectives he’s been viewing child pornography since he was in his 30s. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with:
4 counts possession of child pornography (F-3)
1 count promotion of child pornography (F-2)

A search warrant was executed at an apartment complex located at 3924 North Scenic Hwy in Lake Wales, in response to a tip that someone was uploading child pornography to a social media site. Detectives responded to apartment #16, and discovered that 27-year-old Johnny Emmons, Jr., in apartment #15, was using the Internet network of the person living in apartment #16. Emmons is a registered sex offender, who was arrested in 2015 during an undercover child pornography investigation and spent two years in state prison – he’s currently on probation. As a condition of his sex offender and probation status, he cannot be on the Internet. Detectives obtained a search warrant for his apartment (#15), and found a gaming console in his apartment, connected to his neighbor’s Internet. During an initial preview of his cell phone, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as 12 months old. They seized the equipment for further analysis. He was taken into custody and charged with:
41 counts possession of child pornography – enhanced (F-2)
1 count violation of probation

A search warrant was executed at 243 Oxford Road in Davenport, where 54-year-old Jerome Lingenfelter lives with his wife. During an initial preview of his devices, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims between the ages of 6 and 12 years old. Lingenfelter told detectives he’s been viewing child pornography for the past 15 years. He was arrested in 1989 in Sanford, FL, for a felony sex offense against a child – that charge was later reduced to misdemeanor indecent exposure. When detectives asked him about the arrest, he said he was viewing pornography in a supermarket parking lot while masturbating and watching women and children walk by. He was taken into custody and charged with:
5 counts possession of child pornography (F-3)

A search warrant was executed at 100 Tower Manor Circle East in Auburndale, where 34-year-old Marc Aaron Burzynski lives. Detectives received a tip that someone at the residence was downloading child pornography. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located one file depicting child pornography. They seized the equipment for further analysis. Detectives interviewed Burzynski, who admitted to downloading child pornography and said it was related to an arrest when he was a juvenile, for lewd and lascivious battery on a victim under 12 years old. His criminal history includes prior arrests in New York for forgery. He is employed as a customer service rep for an Internet and cable company. He was taken into custody and charged with:
1 count possession of child pornography (F-3)
1 count promotion of child pornography (F-2)

A search warrant was executed at 223 Orange Street Apt. 3 in Auburndale, where 44-year-old Jesse Whitehead lives. Detectives received a tip that someone at the residence was downloading child pornography. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located files depicting child pornography. They seized the equipment for further analysis. Detectives interviewed Whitehead, who admitted to downloading child pornography with victims as young as 10 years old. He is an assistant manager at a Taco Bell. He was taken into custody and charged with:
76 counts possession of child pornography – enhanced (F-2)
1 count promotion of child pornography (F-2)

A search warrant was executed at a residence in Lake Wales, recently vacated by 18-year-old Brooklyn Childs. Detectives received a tip that someone at the residence was downloading child pornography. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as babies. They seized the equipment for further analysis. Detectives interviewed Childs, who admitted to saving the files and then sending them to others online. Childs has a previous arrest for battery domestic violence, and was taken into custody and charged with:
3 counts possession of child pornography (F-3)
1 count promotion of child pornography (F-2)

As previously reported, on February 27, 2019, PCSO detectives arrested a married Lake Wales couple, 29-year-old Jesse Butler and his wife, 30-year-old Katie Butler, after receiving a NCMEC tip that a video containing child pornography was uploaded and sent from Jesse to Katie via Facebook Messenger. Detectives executed a search warrant at their home, 511 High Street in Lake Wales, and found over 40 images and videos depicting child pornography. Jesse Butler was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography (F-3), transmission of child pornography (F-3), possession of a controlled substance (F-3), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1). He remains in jail on $21,000 bond. Katie Butler was arrested and charged with 40 counts possession of child pornography (F-2), possession of a controlled substance (F-3), and possession of paraphernalia (M-1). She remains in jail on $200,000 bond ($5,000 per charge). Click here to read the previously sent news release.

As previously reported, on March 7, 2019, PCSO detectives served a search warrant at 610 Peninsular Drive in Lakeland, where 61-year-old Dr. Brian Birky lives. He was initially arrested for 9 counts possession of child pornography (F-3), and was re-arrested on March 14th after forensic analysis of his equipment, for 300 additional counts possession of child pornography (F-2). He was released from the Polk County Jail on April 25, 2019, after posting $609,000 bond ($1,000 per the initial nine F-3 charges, and $2,000 per each added-on F-2 charge).

Project EAGLE Cleans Up Chain Of Lakes For Third Decade

Winter Haven

Staff Reporter

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April 29, 2019

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Project EAGLE Cleans Up Chain Of Lakes For Third Decade

by James Coulter

Thirty years ago, Judy Howell and several other local residents wanted to do something about the litter culminating within the lakes in Winter Haven. So they started Project EAGLE, an annual cleanup event where local residents volunteer their time cleaning up the local lakes.

Three decades later, and the event continues to go strong with hundreds of volunteers, especially young children, attending the event to clean up their lakes and make Winter Haven a more beautiful place in the process.

The annual evented initially started in 1989 through a partnership with the Wildlife Commission, which hosted similar cleanup events throughout the state. Three decades later, and even though the other cleanup events have long since discontinued, Project EAGLE continues to move forward with their efforts to clean up their local waterways.

“As someone who has been with it since the beginning, I am happy to see it flourish,” Howell said. “I hope we can keep going with it each and every year. We just need volunteers with the community wanting to clean up their city. Personally, I just like seeing the number of people coming here with all of the boats and all the things they get involved with.”

The annual event is hosted on the fourth Saturday in April, at least one week after Earth Day. The volunteers for the event congregate at Lake Shipp Park early in the morning and venture out to either walk along the lakes or travel within in them by boat to collect litter.

More than one or two tons of trash are collected during the event, which not only reveals the amount of trash floating within the water, but also the sheer effort that the event has in helping reduce it, explained Tracey Mercer, Event Chair.

“We usually pick up between one or two tons per year at this one-day event, so if we didn’t do that, you could only imagine over the last 30 years how much trash would be in the lakes,” she said “That is why we do it.”

After spending the entire morning collecting trash, the volunteers return to Lake Shipp Park where they enjoy a grilled lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs, play about in the playground, listen to live music performed by the Justin Bevin Band, and learn about local organizations and their own efforts helping the environment.

Making sure the lakes are free of garbage is not merely an environmental concern, but a sociological one as well. Too much litter in a neighborhood is an indicator of social decline, which in turn leads to an increase of crime and decrease in property values, Mercer said.

While this year’s event saw a smaller turnout than last year, mostly due to other events occurring the same time that day, what’s most important is the youth turnout. Only by having the younger generation invested within their local environment can the beauty of the natural landscape be preserved for future generations, Mercer said.

“The reason that it has been so successful is because most people are concerned about the lakes, they enjoy the lakes, some of it is part of their home, so that is the big thing and the awareness of doing it,” she said.

Rick Cardona, a board member for Project EAGLE, has been participating within the event for the past 11 years. Each and every year has him making it a family affair, with many of his relatives even arriving from Miami to help out, he said.

“In reality, I see a little less trash than usual, but that is the ultimate goal: to eliminate trash,” he said. “I’m hoping that one day, in the near future, instead of having a lunch we have a breakfast and say thank you because there is zero trash to pick up.”

Lakeland Jellybean Jubilee Celebrates Easter, Better Late Than Never

Lakeland

Staff Reporter

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April 29, 2019

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Lakeland Jellybean Jubilee Celebrates Easter, Better Late Than Never

by James Coulter

The Easter Bunny may have arrived a week after his holiday in Lakeland, but his apperance on Saturday at the Simpson Park Community Center was more than appreciated by many local children.

Better late than never, Simpson Park celebrated Easter fun last Saturday with its annual Jelly Bean Jubilee, offering children and their families plenty of springtime fun.

The afternoon provided many fun activities for children of all ages within the center’s gymnasium, including face painting, caricature drawing, coloring pages, bounce houses, and balloon animals. Later that day, attendees could enjoy a free lunch with hot dogs, chips, and juice.

Helping with the festivities that day were donations and volunteers from the Lakeland Neighborhood Association. Not only did the event that day include a special apperance by the Easter Bunny himself, but by McGruff the Crime Dog as well.

The main event, of course, was the Easter egg hunt, as children of all ages took their Easter baskets and bags and rushed onto the sports field to gather up as many colored plastic eggs as they could.

Making sure that there are plenty of eggs to go around proves to be quite the challenge for each year’s event; however, the low participation that afternoon ensured that the children participating received more than enough eggs, explained Brenda Tillman, Recreational Supervisor Assistant.

“We have to make sure that we order enough eggs, just in case we have more than we anticipated coming,” she said.

Nearly one hundred children and their families attended the event that afternoon, which was quite the significant turnout considering that the festivities were hosted a good week after Easter, Tillman said.

“A lot of people had thought that Easter preparation was done, so we are going to work on having it on a different day next year,” she said.

Though the event received a decent turnout, Tillman, who often helps oversees the after school programs offered at the center, was disappointed to see many of the young faces she often sees during those program to be missing that day, and she hopes that the center can host the event earlier next time to ensure that they can attend.

“We are going to have the next event on a Friday to cater to the kids that are here after school, because we hated that the kids who are here on a regular basis were not here today,” she said. “The community loves to come out and have fun. It is a free event for the community, and that is what we pride ourselves with in the community.”

The Easter celebration may have come late, but as the old saying goes: better late than never. That was the sentiment of many of the people overseeing the event that day, including Recreational Supervisor John Williams, who personally ensured that the Easter Bunny showed up to celebrate that day.

“I think it was a great turnout,” he said. “It was a great opportunity for the community to kind of enjoy the celebration of Easter a week later. The community showed a lot of support, we were able to feed kids today, we were able to allow kids to stay off the kids and have a great time.”

Maronda Homes Celebrates Ribbon Cutting Of Haines Ridge

Haines City

Staff Reporter

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April 29, 2019

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Maronda Homes Celebrates Ribbon Cutting Of Haines Ridge

by James Coulter

When Jim McCormack and his partner, Kyle McDonald, were searching for a new home, they were not only looking for a house that was larger and more affordable than their old home, but also located in a quaint, quiet community where they could enjoy rest and relaxation after a hard day’s work.

The couple found exactly what they were looking for when they purchased their new house at Haines Ridge from Maronda Homes in 2015. Four years later, and they still love the new house and community that they selected as their new home.

Their new house was about 300 square feet larger than their previous home, and it included an extra garage, whereas their former place only had a two-door garage. The new community they moved to within Haines Ridge also proved to be quite the upgrade for them, McCormack explained.

“Our old community was an older, aging community, whereas this one was more up and coming and vibrant,” he said. “It [the community] is quiet and peaceful…and it [the house] was very affordable.”

Nestled along Barrington Drive off of US Highway 17, and located only a mile or so from Downtown Haines City, the new Haines Ridge community offers comfortable, affordable living with the quiet laid-back atmosphere of a suburban rural enviroment and the easy accessibility to the big city lifestyle.

Maronda Homes, which sells the homes for the community, recently celebrated the grand opening of the area with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Northeast Chamber of Commerce (formerly the Haines City Chamber of Commerce) on Friday.

Haines Ridge is walking distance from the downtown area, especially the Lake Eva Community Center, which means that an outing for family fun splashing about within the splash pad or water park, playing a game of basketball or tennis, or simply walking the scenic trail along the lake is only a short walk away.

The community is also conveniently located near major highways such as Highway 27 and I4, thus offering ease of access either for your commute to work or your excursions to Orlando, the theme parks, or any of the other major surrounding cities.

“In recent years, Haines City has seen an explosive growth largely because of its convenient access to Orlando and Walt Disney World Resort,” its website states. “Living in Haines Ridge will spoil you quickly with its charm and convenience to shopping and nearby restaurants.”

Haines Ridge is part of phase two of Maronda Homes plans to provide affordable housing opportunities within Northeast Polk County, especially the Haines City and Davenport. Earlier this year, Maronda Homes celebrated the ribbon cutting of another community, Nature’s Reserve, within Davenport.

Currently, Maronda Homes has sold more than 120 homes within their first few phases of development, and they plan to sell more than 150 within their next phase, explained Eldesha Tiller, Sales Associates for Maronda Homes.

“With the market being the way it is, it [housing opportunities] has been growing, especially here in Haines Ridge,” she said. “Our expectations is for it to continue to grow.”

Lana Stripling, Northeast Polk Chamber Director, has been most excited about the housing opportunities being provided by Maronda Homes, as it is a clear indicator of economic development within the local area, she said.

“I think the quality of the home and the price is right for the families today, and they are big and spacious and beautiful, so I think is a good quality for the families who are coming into this area,” she said. “[It is] bringing in more families for us to help our city grow, and it is just a great opportunity for us to continue to grow in this area and for more businesses to see that we are growing and bringing in families, and they will bring their business in to us.”

Haines Ridge is located at 202 Barrington Dr., Haines City, FL 33844. For more information, contact Maronda Homes by visiting their website at: http://www.marondahomes.com/

Highlands Hammock Announces Rick Arnold Concert

Staff Reporter

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April 29, 2019

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Highlands Hammock Announces Rick Arnold Concert

Guitarist Country/Rocker to play Music in the Park Finale May 4

Sebring: Rick Arnold is scheduled to play the final concert of the Music in the Park series on May 4. This native of Kentucky, who called Nashville “home” for over 25 years prior to moving to Florida, is most famously known for penning “Hog Wild,” the title cut of a Hank Williams, Jr. album and “The Farm Song.” Arnold has performed with Williams and also worked with The Boxtops, Percy Sledge, and Ray Sawyer from Dr. Hook’s Medicine Show band. He has experienced success as a singer/songwriter, musician, and entertainer, having charted three of his own songs in the Top 100s and performing many venues on the road. Country music had a strong influence on him when he was a child, as he traveled with his father who maintained juke box and pin ball machines in many a honkytonk. Rick Arnold is also known for his exceptional versatility. He can easily transition from country to favorite 1960s rock-n-roll oldies to 70s style rock. Arnold’s wife Robin has stated, “When people hear Rick’s Kentucky accent, they automatically think he’s “country,” but once he starts playing guitar, it is obvious that he was born to rock.” Arnold released his 15^thalbum entitled “Raised on Country, Born to ROCK!” in 2018. Robin Arnold further stated, “When you see Rick live, it is evident that he loves to play the electric guitar AND he loves to rock!” Arnold has developed a following throughout the Heartland and is known for playing high energy shows featuring the best country music, both classic and contemporary, and the best rock. Enjoy a rollicking good night of great guitar and harmonica from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with Rick as he brings this season’s Music in the Park series to a close.

Admission is $10.00 per adult. Accompanied children ten years old and younger are free of charge. Music in the Park concerts are sponsored by the Friends of Highlands Hammock. All proceeds benefit park improvements. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and flashlights and enjoy an evening of music under the stars. Food vendors will be onsite. Golf carts and dogs are not permitted. Park entry fees of $6.00 per vehicle (up to 8 people) and $4.00 per single occupant vehicle are waived after 6:00 p.m. on concert nights. Highlands Hammock is located at 5931 Hammock Road in Sebring. Call the Ranger Station at 863-386-6094 for more information. Check out Rick Arnold on You Tube, Facebook, or www.rickarnold.com.

19 Yr Old Frostproof Man Arrested By Lake Wales Police After Allegedly Thinking He Was Meeting 13 Yr Old For Sex

Lake Wales

Staff Reporter

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April 28, 2019

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19 Yr Old Frostproof Man Arrested By Lake Wales Police After Allegedly Thinking He Was Meeting 13 Yr Old For Sex

Lake Wales Police Department Press Release

On Friday April 26, 2019 Lake Wales Police Detectives arrested 19 year old Gustavo Adolfo Martinez of Frostproof after he arrived at a location believing he was there to meet a 13 year old girl for sex.

The case began Friday morning when an alert McLaughlin Middle School administrator observed an 13 year old student talking with an adult male (Martinez) several blocks away from the school. After speaking with the girl at school, administrators learned Martinez had been communicating with the child via social media for around one year. Martinez began sending the child explicit nude photographs of himself when she was 12 years old and discussed various sexual acts with her. Detectives learned Martinez had sexual intercourse with the child just prior to the McLaughlin administrator observing them together.

A Lake Wales Police Detective began communicating with Martinez posing as a child during the day and arranged to meet him Friday afternoon. Martinez arrived at the location on time and he was promptly taken into custody. During an interview after his arrest Martinez admitted to the relationship and admitted he had sexual intercourse with the girl Friday morning.

Gustavo Adolfo Martinez was charged with the following:

1. Lewd or Lascivious battery which is a 2nd degree felony.

2. Using an electronic device to lure or entice a child which is a 3rd degree felony.

3. Traveling to meet a minor which is also a 3rd degree felony.

4. Sending obscene material to a minor which is a 3rd degree felony.

5. Unlawful use of a two way communication device which is a 3rd degree felony.

6. Driving with no driver’s license which is a misdemeanor.

Martinez does have a criminal history which consists of domestic battery.

This case is an excellent example of alert school staff and law enforcement working together as a team to put predators like Gustavo Adolfo Martinez behind bars.

If you have information regarding this case please contact Detectives Ive Rodriguez or Whitney Dukes at 678-4223. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).

Seven Year Old Girl In Critical Condition After Being Struck Riding Her Bicycle In Lake Wales

Lake Wales

Staff Reporter

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April 26, 2019

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Update 6:41am: The driver of the vehicle involved in Thursday night’s crash was 48-year-old Jose Mejia-Hernandez of Lake Wales, and he was driving a 2018 Ford F350. The injured girl is Jeremisa Wade of Lake Wales.

Wade was flown to Arnold Palmer Hospital.

Preliminary investigation shows that Mejia-Hernandez had been driving north on Highland Drive when the girl rode her bike into the path of the truck. Wade was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Mejia-Hernandez showed no signs of impairment, and the investigation is ongoing.

Wade’s condition is listed as guarded.

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Lake Wales, Florida- The Polk County Sheriffs Office has confirmed a seven year old girl was struck while riding her bicycle in Lake Wales. The accident took place around 6:40pm on Thursday night near the intersection of Highland Dr. & Grove Rd. 1. The driver of the vehicle stopped and stayed at the scene. The little girl was transported to the field near the Polk County Fire Rescue fire station in Golfview Park.

According to Brian Bruchey, public information officer for the PCSO, the little girl is listed in critical condition.

This is a developing story and we will update as more information is available.

Lakeland Man Died After Being Baker Acted

Lakeland

Staff Reporter

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April 25, 2019

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Lakeland Man Died After Being Baker Acted

Polk County Sheriffs Office Press Release

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a Lakeland man who died at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, after he was taken there under a Baker Act.

Preliminary information so far is as follows:

At 3:25 a.m. on April 24th, PCSO deputies responded to Woodland Avenue in Lakeland in response to a disturbance. Roommates living with 52-year-old Darren Copeland called PCSO due to Copeland behaving erratically and making statements such as he was “ready to meet my maker.” He also asked his roommates to call law enforcement to help him.

When deputies arrived on-scene, Copeland was walking out of the residence, and they observed that he was sweating profusely, with his clothes soaked from sweat, and that he was in a state of panic. Copeland made statements to the deputies such as “they’re trying to kill me” and “I want to meet my maker” and said he needed help. As the two deputies approached him to escort him to a patrol car so they could transport him to a local hospital under the Baker Act, Copeland ran from them to the side of the house, then tripped and fell to the ground. The deputies caught up with him and attempted to restrain him, when he began to struggle. Nobody was injured during the struggle, but shortly after the struggle, Copeland became unresponsive.

The deputies immediately began CPR, and a PCFR unit that was already enroute arrived seconds later and took over life-saving measures. Copeland’s heartbeat was restored, and he was transported to LRHMC.

Copeland’s condition did not improve after he was admitted under the Baker Act, and his next of kin made the decision to remove him from life support. He was declared deceased at 8:56 p.m. that evening.

An autopsy was conducted this morning, on April 25, 2019, and his exact cause of death is pending toxicology. Dr. Nelson said it appears to be a case of excited delirium, and that he did not find any evidence of foul play or injury, and also noted the victim had an enlarged heart. An initial medical screening at LRHMC found evidence of methamphetamines and marijuana in Copeland’s system.

The investigation is ongoing. It is standard PCSO policy for four separate, independent investigations. The PCSO completes a death investigation and administrative (internal) investigation. The Polk County Medical Examiner conducts the autopsy to determine the manner and cause of death. All the investigative findings are forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office for their investigation and review.

Copeland’s arrest history includes 7 felonies and 4 misdemeanors, for charges such as robbery, battery, resisting arrest, possession of cocaine, delivery of synthetic marijuana, and VOP. He’s been to state prison 5 times, in 1988, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008. A Florida Dept. of Corrections mugshot of Copeland is attached.

Fort Meade Celebrates Ribbon Cutting For Refurbished City Hall, Fire Station, and Sheriff’s Office

Fort Meade

Staff Reporter

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April 25, 2019

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Fort Meade Celebrates Ribbon Cutting For Refurbished City Hall, Fire Station, and Sheriff’s Office

by James Coulter

Two years after sustaining damage from Hurricane Irma, the City of Fort Meade celebrated the grand opening of their refurbished City Hall, Fire Department, and Sheriff’s Office buildings with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday.

Mayor Bob Elliot and other Fort Meade City Commisioners joined important members from local city, chamber, and construction organizations upon the front steps of the refurbished City Hall, where they commemorated the renovated buildings with a ribbon cutting. Several representatives from local government agencies were present for the ceremony, including Sheriff Grady Judd.

The city buildings for the City Hall, Fire Department, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Substation all received a catastrophic amount of damage following Hurricane Irma, which required them all to receive much needed renovations.

In total, more than 500,000 square feet of work area required remodeling and repairs, which required more than $800,000, a touch over the city’s budget, Mayor Elliot said. The city started rebuilding and renovating the three facilities on May 9, 2018 with repairs having since been completed in time for the ribbon cutting on Tuesday.

“I would particularly like to thank my staff and all the employees who continued to work and do their daily jobs through the remodeling projects,” Mayor Elliot said. “This capital project spanned several fiscal years in our city budget, that would have not been possible without local, state, and federal support…and for that, I thank you.”

The City of Fort Meade Fire Department, aside from receiving renovations to their building, also received a $31,000 grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which went towards purchasing much-needed extrication equipment, including a battery-powered hydraulic spreader and cutter.

“With this battery operated extradition tool, we can go all out and not worry about towing a machine and hose with us,” said Fire Chief Harrison Eliard. “I am just glad that we have these extrication tools.”

To show their gratitude for the donation, the fire chief and mayor conferred commemorative plaques to representatives from both the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation and the Firehouse Subs store in Winter Haven.

The fire department also took the opportunity to provide a public demonstration of the new equipment, as firefighters used them to deconstruct a used car. Within mere seconds, the mechanical jaw tore open the car door as easily as the lid of an aluminum can.

After their department received much rain and water damage from the hurricane, Chief Eliard is grateful not only for the renovations to their building, but also the donation they received from Firehouse Subs to obtain new equipment.

“The grant that we received…is a nice promising grant to help protect our citizens for the city of Fort Meade with the extrication tools that we have here,” he said. “It is promising, and we know that we got more years with it now.”

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