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20 Yr Old Babson Park Man Suffers Life Threatening Injuries In Motorcycle Crash Near Eagle Ridge Mall

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Lake Wales Police Department Press Release

On Saturday February 23, 2019 at approximately 10:31 PM, Lake Wales Police Department responded to a vehicle crash on Hwy 27 in front of the Eagle Ridge Mall. The crash involved a 2002 Yamaha motorcycle. According to witnesses, a white BMW pulled out of a side entrance to the mall heading North and into the path of the motorcycle. The motorcycle attempted to change lanes to avoid the collision with the BMW. This caused the motorcycle to lose control & lay the bike down ejecting the rider. The motorcycle didn’t impact the BMW.

The driver of the motorcycle has been identified as Gage Earl David Miller, age 20, of Babson Park. He was transported via helicopter to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center with life threatening injuries. The driver of the BMW has been identified as Antonio Gonzalez, age 25, of Lake Wales. He was not injured.

The accident is still under investigation.

Man Who Allegedly Killed Unborn Baby Due To Hit & Run Captured In Haines City

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Polk County Sheriffs Office Press Release

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man wanted for a hit and run crash which resulted in the death of a pregnant woman’s unborn child.

48-year-old Bionel Cervin-Gomez was captured Saturday, February 23, 2019, exactly two weeks after he fled from a three-vehicle crash he caused on Highway 17/92 at Shamrock Road in Davenport (Feb. 23, 2019).

During a news conference about the crash on Friday, February 22, 2019, Sheriff Grady Judd shared a photo of an unknown woman at an ATM using Cervin-Gomez’s debit card, and he made a plea for someone to identify her, as she may be able to provide information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts.

That woman saw herself on the PCSO Facebook page, and reached out to deputies. She was identified as Sor Juana Ines De la Cruz Torres Abarca, of 2300 Smith Road in Haines City.

“Ultimately, this man caused a baby’s death. His actions on the road ended a pregnancy in the eighth month. I’m very happy that Ms. Torres Abarca did the right thing and came forward, which helped use capture the suspect who was in hiding like a coward.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.

While speaking with Ms. Torres Abarca, Cervin-Gomez called her phone to ask her for a ride. The suspect was located at 2642 Watson Road in Haines City, and arrested.

He told deputies that he fled from the scene because he did not have a driver license. 

Cervin-Gomez was taken to the Polk County Jail, charged with Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Great Bodily Injury or Death (F2) and Driving without a License Causing Death or Great Bodily Injury (F3), and is being held with no bond.

Cervin-Gomez is in the United States of America illegally. The Department of Homeland Security has been notified of his capture, and that agency has requested an ICE Hold on him.

UPDATE: Small Plane Crashed into Home in Winter Haven

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***UPDATE: Polk County Plane Crash***

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation after a small plane crashed into a home at 2735 Idylridge Drive in Winter Haven, at about 12:43 P.M. Saturday, February 23, 2019. One person was killed, and two others have relatively minor injuries.

64-year-old James Wagner of Lakeland died at the scene. Wagner was the instructor pilot of the UC-1 Twin SeaBee plane that had just taken off from Winter Haven’s Gilbert Airport.

33-year-old Timothy Sheehy of Bozeman, Montana was a student pilot in the plane, and suffered only minor injuries. Sheehy was able to exit the crashed plane on his own.

Preliminary information is that the pilots were conducting simulated engine failure. It is not known at this time what caused the crash.

Shortly after take-off, the plane lost power, and crashed into the residence which was occupied by three people.

17-year-old Carmelle Ngalamulume was in the bedroom that the plane crashed into, and she became entrapped. Her 20-year-old brother Joel Ngalamulume, who was in the next room, tried unsuccessfully to free her. Their mother, Emerance Ngalamulume, was taking a shower at the time of the crash.

Emerance and Joel were uninjured, but Carmelle was transported to an area hospital in stable condition.

There were three other children (ages 15, 11, and 2) who were playing in the front yard of the home, and they were also uninjured.

“As tragic as this was for Mr. Wagner and his family, this could have been much, much worse. This crash is an unbelievable scene. NTSB has been contacted, and the FAA has responded to conduct their investigations.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Winter Haven Fire responded to the scene, and PCSO was assisted by Winter Haven Police Department.

PCSO Looking For An Illegal Immigrant Involved In a Deadly Hit and Run

 

Update:
The picture below is of a person of interest related to the case. This woman recently used Cervin-Gomez’ debit card so we’re trying to locate her to help us track down his whereabouts.

PCSO Press Release:

PCSO Looking For An Illegal Immigrant Involved In a Deadly Hit and Run


PCSO is actively searching for 48-year-old Bionel Cervin-Gomez of Davenport who has a warrant for his arrest for leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury. Doctors later determined that an unborn child died as a result of the mothers’ trauma suffered during the crash.  The mother had been 8 months pregnant.

On Saturday, February 9, 2019, deputies responded to a crash involving three vehicles near Highway 17/92 and Shamrock Drive in Davenport. Cervin-Gomez was driving a GMC Truck when he violated the right-of-way of a Chevrolet Aveo, driven by 22-year-old Courtney Belser, who was pregnant. There was a one-year-old girl riding in the Aveo as well, who was not injured. The truck also struck a Ford van driven by 23-year-old Mario Albaladejo, who was uninjured. Cervin-Gomez fled the scene on foot prior to the deputies’ arrival.

Ms. Belser was later transported to Osceola Regional Medical Center as a precaution since she was 8 months pregnant and her unborn son was determined to be deceased.  All others involved in the crash received medical attention at the scene and did not require transportation to any hospitals.


During the investigation, deputies obtained video surveillance that showed Cervin-Gomez purchasing beer at a convenience store two hours prior to the crash. They also discovered the GMC Truck had been recently purchased by Cervin-Gomez. Deputies conducted a search of three different residences, but could not locate him. He has no driver’s license on file in any state. An I.C.E inquiry was completed and deputies learned that Cervin-Gomez is a previously deported immigrant who returned to Mexico in 2000. He does not have current legal status to be in the United States.

The warrant issued for Cervin-Gomez at this time is for leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license involving serious bodily injury.

All local hospitals were contacted and law enforcement agencies have been notified to be on the lookout for Cervin-Gomez.

“Not only is Mr. Cervin-Gomez here illegally, he caused a crash that ultimately took the life of an unborn child. He was operating a vehicle without a license and fled the scene, both violations of the law. In light of his earlier purchase of alcohol, he was also very likely intoxicated at the time of the crash. We have been working hard to locate him and charge him for not stopping to render aid to the victims of the crash he caused. ” -Grady Judd, Sheriff

 

 

Emergency Manhole Repairs Could Slow Ridgewood Lakes Traffic In Davenport

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Polk County Utilities Press Release

Emergency Manhole Repairs Could Slow Ridgewood Lakes Traffic

Bartow, Fla. (February 22, 2019) — Polk County Utilities is making emergency repairs to a manhole in the inside westbound (outbound) travel lane on Ridgewood Lakes Blvd. east of Spanish Moss Road in the Del Webb community in Davenport. A structural failure in the manhole caused a depression in the surrounding roadway. The travel lane will be closed and traffic will be diverted around the work zone through next Friday as crews work to seal the interior of the manhole before restoring the roadway and safely reopening the travel lane to traffic. Any traveling delays should be minor, but motorists are still encouraged to drive with caution and obey traffic signs.

South County Jail Inmate Charged With Attempted Murder in Attack on Another Inmate

PCSO Press Release:

South County Jail Inmate Charged With Attempted Murder in Attack on Another Inmate

On Wednesday, February 20, 2019, PCSO detectives charged South County Jail inmate Shedderick “Savage” Randals, DOB 12/25/94, with one count attempted murder (F-1), one count introduction of contraband into a detention facility (F-3), and one count tampering with evidence, after Randals attacked and stabbed another South County Jail inmate, William Lee Campbell III, DOB 3/14/95, with a homemade “shank.”

According to the affidavit, the suspect and the inmate are housed in the building and dorm where those charged with serious felonies are kept. While detention deputies were making rounds and doing security checks around 3:00 p.m., they encountered Campbell standing in his cell doorway with what appeared to be blood on the back of his uniform shirt. When the deputies asked about it, Campbell replied, “I have a nose bleed.” Deputies saw a wound on Campbell’s back where the blood was, and escorted him to the jail infirmary to be examined. Jail medical staff found nine stab wounds at the top and center of Campbell’s back, and determined he needed to be transported to an area hospital.

Deputies interviewed Campbell, who told them that Randals grabbed him by the arms and pulled him into Randals’ cell, and then punched him in his face and ribs until he fell on the ground. Once Campbell fell face down on the ground, Randals stomped on his head and then Campbell felt something enter his back, and he saw blood. The attack ceased when Randals heard deputies approaching.

After the attack, deputies locked down the dorm and observed Randals in his cell wiping up blood with a white towel. He was placed in a holding cell and a thorough search of the dorm was conducted. Deputies located the “shank” – a sharp object wrapped in strips of a torn sheet to form a handle – hidden inside a pair of sneakers in the immediate area where the attack occurred.

Campbell is being treated at a local hospital for his non-life-threatening wounds. He is in stable condition.

Campbell was arrested by PCSO on October 25, 2018, for grand theft of a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm, armed burglary, burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, and criminal mischief, and is being held on no bond. His criminal history includes 19 prior felonies and 8 prior misdemeanors, including arrests for felony battery, battery on a LEO, battery domestic violence, carrying a concealed weapon, burglary, criminal mischief, giving false ID to LEO, VOP, and FTA.

Randals was arrested by Auburndale PD on May 30, 2017, for robbery, trespassing, burglary with battery, and resisting arrest, and is being held on no bond. His criminal history includes 29 prior felonies and 17 prior misdemeanors, including arrests for robbery, attempted armed robbery, burglary with battery, resisting arrest, burglary, trespassing, possession of marijuana & paraphernalia, indecent exposure, forgery, grand theft, giving false name to LEO, VOP, and FTA.

 

22 Yr Old Winter Haven Man Killed In Motorcycle Crash Thursday Morning In Bartow

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

On Thursday, February 21, 2019 at 6:15 a.m., deputies responded to a crash in the south bound lanes of US 17 near South Clear Springs Road in Bartow involving a Kawasaki Sport Motorcycle and a Peterbuilt Garbage Truck.

The driver of the motorcycle, 22-year-old Bret Jarvis of Winter Haven, was pronounced deceased at Bartow Regional Medical Center after being transported from the scene.

There was heavy fog present at the time of the crash. Witnesses say Jarvis was heading southbound on US 17 at a high rate of speed. Jarvis was initially in the inside left lane when he approached two vehicles in front of him. Jarvis then proceeded to move to the right lane to pass the vehicles when he was seen attempting to brake and then running into the back of a garbage truck that was turning into a business at 2203 US 17 South. The motorcycle caught fire and witnesses pulled Jarvis away from the burning bike.

Witnesses also indicated the garbage truck, registered to Advance Disposal Services of Lakeland, had all of its warning lights functioning properly at the time of the crash.

Excessive speed is believed to be a factor, no charges are anticipated, but a final determination will be made upon the completion of the investigation.

No one else was injured in the crash. Southbound US 17 was closed for approximately 4 hours during the crash investigation and recovery.

Traffic Stop In Poinciana Leads To Arrest For Cocaine, Heroin & Marijuana Possession

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OCSO Press Release

On February 13, 2019, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies conducted a
traffic stop in the area of Marigold Avenue and Cypress Branch Road in Poinciana. The traffic stop led to an illegal drug
investigation and the driver and passenger; Zuleimie Baez Mojica and Angel Diaz Cruz were arrested for possession of
controlled substances. The investigation lead deputies and detectives to 323 Colonade Court in Poinciana, where
deputies made contact with Zharleen Cintron-Rivera and a search warrant was obtained. Additional drugs were
discovered in the home and Cintron-Rivera was also arrested. In total, deputies seized over 75 grams of Heroin with a
street value of approximately $8,000, over 21 grams of Cocaine valued at $2500 and 30 grams of Cannabis. The three
suspects arrested were booked into the Osceola County Jail.
Sheriff Russ Gibson and members of the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office are committed to protecting our
community from dangerous drugs and ensuring that those responsible for selling and distributing drugs in our
community are held accountable. We ask anyone with information concerning any illegal drug activity to call the
Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at (407)348-2222 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477, where information leading to a felony
arrest may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 dollars. https://crimeline.org/

Peter Tork Founding Member of The Monkees Dies At 77

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Peter Tork, founding member of the Monkees, has died. The bassist, keyboard player, and occasional lead vocalist for the American pop rock group died earlier today, as The Washington Post reports and a statement on Tork’s Facebook page confirms. While an exact cause of death has not been revealed, Tork previously underwent surgery to combat adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare head-neck cancer, after being diagnosed in 2009. He was 77 years old.

Complete Article Here: https://pitchfork.com/news/the-monkees-peter-tork-dead-at-77/

 

 

Haines City Police Searching For Shoplifter Who Allegedly Stole $900 In Merchandise

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Haines City PD Press Release

The Haines City Police Department is looking for the public’s help in locating a Kissimmee man accused of stealing nearly $900 in merchandise from Walmart Supercenter, 36205 U.S. 27, at about 11:35 a.m. on Jan. 13.

Mark Torres, 305 Erie Lane, was seen by surveillance footage taking three Samsung televisions and placing them into a shopping cart. Torres, 22, passed all points of sale and left in a blue minivan.

On Wednesday, Walmart loss prevention personnel positively identified Torres as the suspect. Torres stands about 5-feet-9 and weighs about 170 pounds.

Torres is out on pre-trial release for a Feb. 17 arrest for grand theft of over $300 among other charges.

Anyone with information who wants to REMAIN ANONYMOUS and be eligible for a CASH REWARD is asked to call HEARTLAND CRIME STOPPERS at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477) or log onto www.P3tips.com to submit your tip via the web. For a secure and password protected mobile app for your smart device, go to the app store and download the free “P3tips” mobile app. No caller ID, no recorded lines, no tracking cookies, no saved IP addresses. Anonymity is GUARANTEED.