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Polk County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Suspicious Package Near Avenue G.

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Polk County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Suspicious Package Near Avenue G.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

Update: Suspicious Package Update:

The scene is now secure at the Polk County Central District office. The PCSO bomb detection K9 did not alert to anything suspicious with the envelope.  The package was opened and we confirmed the item inside was ordered by the Winter Haven woman. She thought the package looked suspicious following recent incidents reported across the country.

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The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a “suspicious package” delivered to a Winter Haven woman. A woman received it in her mailbox and it was address to her. To her, it appeared suspicious, because of the multiple stamps and because it did not have a return address. The package is a commercial-type padded style manila envelope. She drove it to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Central District office located at 3635 Avenue G NW, Winter Haven, FL.

Currently, the package is at our Central District office. Out of an abundance of caution, the office has been evacuated, and Avenue G from 42nd to 34th Street has been closed. Polk County Hazmat has been called to the scene and the Hillsborough County Bomb Squad is responding to assist with the investigation.

Polk Theater In Lakeland Defending Itself After Friday’s Show Depicted Mock Assassination Of President Donald Trump

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Polk Theater In Lakeland Defending Itself After Friday’s Show Depicted Mock Assassination Of President Donald Trump

 

Lakeland, Florida – The Polk Theater in Lakeland is having to defend itself and distance itself from players in a skit. The incident occurred on Friday night’s annual Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The news source Creative Loafing has the exclusive story: An onstage, pre-show skit at Polk Theatre has the historic Lakeland theatre apologizing to its friends and followers.

According to accounts on social media, the skit at Friday night’s annual Rocky Horror Picture Show fundraiser showed a mock assassination of the nation’s seated president, Donald J. Trump.

Some theatergoers were horrified while others defended the act, citing the sanctity of the theater and the Trump administration’s recent desire to roll back protections for transgender Americans, and possibly legally invalidate their existence, by narrowly defining gender as based on sex assignment at birth (many fans flock to Rocky Horror Picture Show for the cult classic’s embrace of LGBTQ culture). Complete Article Here: Lakeland’s Polk Theatre apologizes after onstage, mock assassination of Trump

Two Arrested for Armed Robbery on Tennessee Ave in Lakeland

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Two Arrested for Armed Robbery on Tennessee Ave in Lakeland

LAKELAND, FL – On October 17, 2018 at approximately 11:56 P.M., the Lakeland Police Department (LPD) responded to the area of 130 S. Tennessee Avenue in reference to an armed robbery. The victim, whom wishes to remain anonymous and will be identified by her last name only, Jenkins, left Mojo Federal – BBQ with two of her friends. Jenkins was standing across the street with her friends when two black male subjects walked up behind her with their shirts over their head covering their faces. The two subjects began beating Jenkins on the back of her head and face with their fists. Jenkins fell to the ground and a physical altercation ensued as the subjects were trying to steal her purse. The subjects managed to get her purse and they fled on foot in a northwest direction. Jenkins’ purse contained assorted items to include credit cards. Jenkins had several small lacerations to her forehead and a small contusion to the back of her head as a result of the robbery.

Jenkins’ two friends observed the robbery and heard what sounded like 3 “pop” sounds and one of them observed a handgun. An officer later located a small black magazine which appeared to be from a “bb gun” behind one of the witness’s vehicles.

Ten minutes after the robbery, a credit card from Jenkins purse was swiped at the Circle K located at 1410 N. Florida Avenue. Approximately 10 minutes later, $500.00 was transferred into an account belonging to one of the suspects, Dejon Armstrong, 18-years old.

On October 18th, at approximately 11:30 A.M., the suspects attempted to use another credit card at the Sunoco located at 2905 Reynolds Road in Lakeland.

LPD Detective Scott Weech was assigned to the case and on October 25th, he provided the Lakeland Police Street Crimes Unit (SCU) Armstrong’s information for a surveillance to be conducted. On October 26th at approximately 2:15 A.M., the SCU observed Armstrong in his vehicle with Kejuan Harris, 17 years old. They were in the area of Mann Road outside the city limits of Lakeland. The SCU later observed what appeared to be a burglary to a motor vehicle in progress on Saddlehorn Drive by the two suspects. The SCU called the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) to assist. For additional information on this case and charges, please contact the PCSO. The two suspects left the area and the SCU followed while waiting on additional back-up units.

The Lakeland Police Department utilizing marked police cars initiated a traffic stop on the suspects at 100 East Parker Street. The suspects were taken into custody without incident and transported to the LPD. Two firearms were located in the vehicle and Jenkins’ purse was located in the trunk.

Armstrong and Harris were interviewed and admitted to the armed robbery on October 17th at 130 S. Tennessee Avenue. They both stated a “BB gun” was used in that robbery and has since been disposed of.

Arrested:

Dejuan Armstrong, 18 years old of Lakeland is charged with Armed Robbery, Fraudulent use of a Credit Card and Destruction of Evidence.

Kejuan Harris, 17 years old of Lakeland is charged with Armed Robbery, Fraudulent use of a Credit Card, Dealing in Stolen Property, Possession of a Firearm and Destruction of Evidence.

Stone Cabin Coffee And Cheesecake Offers Fresh In-House Flavor

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Stone Cabin Coffee And Cheesecake Offers Fresh In-House Flavor

Stone Cabin Coffee And Cheesecake Offers Fresh In-House Flavor

by James Coulter

What’s better than eating a decadent slice of melts-in-your-mouth soft yet firm cheesecake? How about being able to wash down that cheesecake with a fresh cup of in-house brewed coffee?

Winter Haven’s newest bakery and cafe offers both made daily from fresh in-house ingredients.

Stone Cabin Coffee And Cheesecake, true to its name, offers both coffee and cheesecake, as well as other fresh-baked items including bagels, cupcakes, and Danishes.

Regardless of what you order, be it a slice of delectable cheesecake or a fresh cup of coffee, you’re guaranteed to enjoy something made in-house from the freshest ingredients with nothing frozen or pre-made.

“It is all made fresh in house every day,” said manager Eva Butler. “There are not that many places that can say that they do that.”

Located near the corner of The Shoppes at Miller’s Landing, entering the rustic cafe feels as though you are stepping out of the Florida heat and into the coziness of a mountain cabin.

The only thing cozier is being able to enjoy the overall rustic mountain cabin decor with either a slice of fresh cheesecake or a cup of fresh coffee.

All of the cheesecakes are made from original recipies made by the staff daily. Every week showcases a different “cheesecake tour” with three unique slices of cheesecake offered in a bundle deal special.

Recently, their cheesecake tour provided three slices of S’mores, Key Lime, and Butterfinger flavor, allowing customers to try their taste buds sampling three distinct yet flavorful slices for a sweeter deal.

“Everybody has a sweet tooth,” Butler said. “That’s why they love us.”

As for the coffee, their in-house brew offers a fresh flavor without the bitter aftertaste, thus offering customers a unique blend distinct from most other coffee houses and cafes.

“The people who come in and drink the coffee, we have had multiple reviews from people that say that our coffee tastes different and better than everywhere else,” Butler said.

Even Butler herself admits that she only drinks the coffee sold at her eatery, refusing to buy coffee from anyplace else, including big name chains.

“I might have a biased opinion, but I would say our coffee is better than Starbucks,” she said. “I won’t drink Starbucks or Dunkin Doughnuts anymore. I come here for my coffee.”

Stone Cabin Coffee And Cheesecake originally started with several cafes in Tennessee and has since made its way down to Florida with its first store in Winter Haven.

The owner lives in both Tennessee and Florida, which is why they planned on opening locations in both state, with plans to further expand into Florida with six new locations throughout Polk, Hillsborough, and Orange County.

Since opening their store nearly one month ago, the cafe has already received glowing reviews from new customers, many of whom have since become regulars.

One Facebook reviewer mentioned how she arrived at the cafe for the first time with her family. She enjoyed her coffee and her cinnamon raisin bagel, which she described as “out of this world”, and her young son also enjoy his chocolate-flavored frozen dessert.

“Stone Cabin is such a cute little café!” she wrote. “The staff was helpful and very friendly, as well! We will definitely be back and recommending it to our friends!”

Slowly yet steadily business has picked up naturally without any formal advertising, with their only marketing being word of mouth and social media.

“[We did that] just so we could pick it up slowly so we could see that the baker can meet up with the needs and that everything is set and ready to go,” Butler said. “It has been pretty good thus far, we have been picking up with a steady pace.”

Having worked in several smaller businesses before, Butler enjoys being able to oversee a small, local business and organically growing a close-knit network of customers, thus keeping true to the café’s motto “where friends become family.”

She expects that this organic growth will continue on in the future with more customers arriving and more locations expanding in the area.

“I like that general idea where this is a close knit smaller resturants that focus on the customers and make everything homemade, and not on the big corporate picture,” she said.

Stone Cabin Coffee And Cheesecake is located within The Shoppes at Miller’s Landing at 7000 Cypress Gardens Boulevard in Winter Haven.

For more information, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stonecabinco/, or their website at http://www.stonecabin.com/

Auburndale Community Church Hosted Fourth Annual Trunk Or Treat

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Auburndale Community Church Hosted Fourth Annual Trunk Or Treat

Auburndale Community Church Hosted Fourth Annual Trunk Or Treat

by James Coulter

Most people have a hard time deciding what they want to dress up as for Halloween every year. Kathy Hoover from Winter Haven always knows what her costume is going to be, because it’s always the same each and every year.

For the past four years, she has been dressing up as Noah’s wife and decorating the back of her car to look like Noah’s ark for the annual trunk or treat event at Auburndale Community Church (ACC).

Every year, she places a cardboard cutout of the ark in the trunk of her van and sets up a plank along which marches two of every stuffed animal.

As a member of the church for the past 10 years, she has been attending its trunk or treat event every year that it has been hosting the event.

“The kids keep us coming back time and again,” she said. “[I] tell them about Noah’s Ark and give them candy and see all these cute kids in costume.”

For the past four years since she started attending the event, she has seen it grow each and every year, and she expects it to continue doing so for as long as she plans to continue attending.

“It will only get bigger, because people talk about it and how much fun it is,” she said.

This year’s ACC Trunk or Treat was hosted on Wednesday. Hundreds of children and their parents dressed in their Halloween costumes lined up around the church for a chance get candy, and enjoy other activities.

More than a dozen cars lined up alongside the church, with the owners decorating the back of their cars and sitting behind them to pass out candy to the children.

Bob Caszatt, an Auburndale resident, learned about the event through his friends who attend the church. He currently attends another church in town.

For his first year at the event, he decided to decorate the back of his car like an old time matinee with skeletons and other spooks set up next to a film projector and a “zombie buffet.”

“[My car] is almost like a monster mobile, so I do it all up with skulls and stuff,” he said.

With the a ticket, participants were also able to obtain a free hot dog, soft drink, and popcorn.

Other activities that evening included a bounce house, several carnival games, and arts and craft opportunities including Halloween mask-making.

The annual Halloween event has been hosted at the church’s new location for the past four years, and each and every year has seen it grow bigger and better, explained Pastor Brad Bennett.

“We had some folks in the church that thought it was a good idea,” he said. “The way that we do things here, if somebody has an idea, that is what we do. It is an opportunity to outreach.”

Most of the turnout each and every year is due to their promotion on social media. Their Facebook event received more than 1.5 thousand responses saying people would be interested in attending, with more than 300 reporting that they attended.

Pastor Bennett expects the event to continue going and growing in coming years. As the turnout continues to grow, hopefully so too will the event, he said.

“I just enjoy being around the people and ministering in any way that we can,” he said. “That has put a smile on our faces and being able to do something with kids in a positive way…We have plenty of property, so as it grows, we will grow with it.”

Hundreds Of Local Children Took Flight At Florida Air Museum

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Hundreds Of Local Children Took Flight At Florida Air Museum

Hundreds Of Local Children Took Flight At Florida Air Museum

by James Coulter

Nearly 200 children had the opportunity to hop within the co-pilot seat of an airplane to fly alongside a pilot into the wild blue yonder above Lakeland on Saturday.

More than 200 children between the ages of 8 and 17 years old registered for the chance to take part in a Young Eagle First Flight, allowing them to take a personal flight with a trained pilot.

These flights were provided as part of the US Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagles Program, which, according to Wikipedia, is “designed to give children between the ages of 8 to 17 an opportunity to experience flight in a general aviation airplane while educating them about aviation.”

From all across the county and even the state, children and their legal guardians flocked to the air museum that Saturday for the opportunity to fly alongside a pilot on one of these personal flights.

Ron Cantrell brought along three young boys from Tampa, two of whom are under his legal guardianship, and one of their friends, for this chance to enjoy the local air museum and to participate within these flights.

The overall event more than met his expectations, as one of the boys he took along was able to go on a flight. He recommends the overall experience to anyone who has never been before.

“I found out about this yesterday on the website, so I brought them out to have them learn about airplanes and possibly get a ride,” he said. “I thought it was very nice and I hope that they do this more often.”

These flights were one of many activities offered during the museum’s Aerospace Discovery Day on Saturday, allowing attendees to peruse the museum’s facilities and engage with various aerospace and STEM-related activities.

Aside from the chance to fly within an airplane, attendees could also go on a scavenger hunt using drones, spot different celestial objects within the planetarium, and overall tour the museum for free.

Young children had the opportunity to learn more about aviation through various hands-on activities, from building their own model planes and wind socks to launching bottle rockets and even taking a ride within an airplane simulator.

Other activities that day included bounce houses, dodgeball, rock climbing, and several food trucks and vendors from local eateries including Chik-Fil-A.

This is one of many events hosted by the museum to not only attract potential museumgoers to the facility, but also help spark an interest in aviation and aerospace in young children.

“It has been great,” explained Richelle Floyd, Educational Director. “I enjoy seeing how excited the kids are.”

Recent studies have shown an overall decline within the aviation industry. As such, events such as this are vital to help spur an interest for the next generation of pilots, mechanics, and engineers.

“I think it is an excellent opportunity for the children of our community to come on out and discover the different aspects of aviation,” said Jeannie Schneider, Administrative Assistant. “I think the children of today need to realize that there are so many aspects of aviation community and aviation as a career that affects the gas it puts in their car to the food that is on their tables and the engineering that goes into rockets.”

Bomb Threat Hoax & Box Of Electronic’s Trash Cause Stir In The City Of Bartow Thursday

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Bomb Threat Hoax & Box Of Electronic’s Trash Cause Stir In The City Of Bartow Thursday

Bartow Police Department Press Release

At approximately 6:30pm, Bartow Police Officers responded to the Polk County Courthouse in reference to a suspicious device.  During the initial investigation, the device was observed and believed to be suspicious in nature by responding officers.  The initial call was reported by security at the Courthouse.  The device was located outside of the courthouse by the east side entrance. 

After determining the device was suspicious, the immediate area was secured by Bartow Police and Fire staff.  All people remaining in the courthouse were evacuated.  Our partners at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded with bomb detection dogs and perimeter officers to assist.  The Tampa Bomb Squad was notified and they responded to investigate.

Utilizing a robot, the Tampa Bomb Squad Officers ascertained the suspicious device was discarded electronics trash.  It was not an explosive device.  The scene was released and normal activity resumed.  

It should be noted that earlier in the day, the Bartow Police Department did receive a phoned in bomb threat for the Police Department.  This occurred at approximately 1:30pm.  This was determined to be a hoax and not credible.  

This is an ongoing investigation.

We would like to thank the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Tampa Police Department for their assistance.

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

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HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

Walk Safely

  1. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
  2. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
  3. Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
  4. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
  5. Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to
    the left as possible.  Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
  6. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Trick or Treat With an Adult

  1. Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

Keep Costumes Both Creative and Safe

  1. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
  2. Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
  3. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
  4. When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.

Drive Extra Safely on Halloween

  1. Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
  2. Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
  3. Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
  4. Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
  5. Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
  6. Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

Check It All Out

Before you let your kids dive in, dump the entire candy bag out and inspect it all. Throw out any packages that look like they’ve been opened and any homemade or repackaged goods.

 

Have a fun and safe Halloween!!!

Haunted Halloween Hayride Makes Epic Comeback After Hurricane Hiatus

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Haunted Halloween Hayride Makes Epic Comeback After Hurricane Hiatus

Haunted Halloween Hayride Makes Epic Comeback After Hurricane Hiatus

by James Coulter

After being canceled last year due to Hurricane Irma, Haunted Halloween Hayride & Happenings made an epic return to Loyce E. Harpe Park in Mulberry last Saturday evening.

Thousands of attendees, including children and their legal guardians, most of them dressed in colorful costumes, entered the park that evening to partake in various Halloween activities.

The highlight attraction was the titular haunted Halloween hayride and walking trail. With the purchase of a wristband, guests were transported deep into the woods to brave a trail of happy haunts.

This year’s theme of “Twisted Fairy Tales” included dozens of scenes based off of classic children’s stories like “Beauty and The Beast”, “Snow White”, and “Alice in Wonderland” with a creepy and often bloody twist.

More than 50 high school drama students attended that evening to play the part of the twisted fairy tale characters. Their participation that evening allowed them to earn academic hours, explained Jaime Vance, Recreational Coordinator for Polk County Parks & Recreation.

The rest of the park provided much more family-friendly activities for children of all ages. The other big attraction included the Trick or Treat Village, where children could receive candy from more than a dozen vendors run by local organizations.

Other activities that evening included more than two dozen carnival games, an obstacle course, pumpkin patch, maze, climbing wall, bounce houses, and even a paintball field.

Even within the very first hour of operation, the event received a massive turnout, with the first parking lot being filled to capacity and the hayride tickets nearly selling out, Vance said.

The high turnout this year was most likely due to the event’s absence last year because Hurricane Irma forced it to be canceled, Vance explained.

Prior to that, the annual event attracted more than 4,500 attendees in 2016, and most likely exceeded that with approximately 5,000 guests this year, Vance estimated.

Lance Meachum, Battalion Chief for Polk County Fire Rescue, and his team participated by displaying several fire and rescue vehicles (most of which had to be dispatched due to emergency calls that evening) and a fire safety demonstration model house.

Meachum loves to participate in event such as this, not only to help teach children about fire safety, but also to help them have a great fun time.

“I love to see the kids happy, to see a smile on their faces,” he said. “It is a great turnout, the kids are having a great time, and that is the thing that we are here for.”

Johnny White, Owner of Texas Roadhouse, was one of several local eateries, including Papa John’s and Kona Ice, that helped provide food that evening.

Normally, he and his team help pass out candy in the Trick or Treat Village, but they were requested to help provide food as a vendor that evening, he said.

“We enjoy it,” he said. “We like it out here. We love seeing everybody, a lot of people around town. It looks pretty busy, so it is meeting expectations for sure.”

Jesilynn Pfeffer, Outreach Coordinator for the PACE Center for Girls, was one of several vendors helping to pass out candy within the village while also using that opportunity to share her organization’s mission.

This was her first time attending the event. She loved the opportunity to talk about her organization, as well as to see young children enjoying themselves with Halloween fun.

“Everyone is excited and kind, and I would like to do this again next year,” she said. “So it is nice to be out here to brand about PACE. Even if we only have two seconds to give them something, it is still something with their name on it, so it helps more girls.”

Winter Haven Man Arrested For Alleged Armed Attempted Rape & Drugging Of Woman

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Winter Haven Man Arrested For Alleged Armed Attempted Rape & Drugging Of Woman

Winter Haven, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Winter Haven man, Thursday October 18, 2018, who is accused of armed attempted rape & drugging of woman.

Timothy Kriston, DOB:11/13/1968, faces Poss of Firearm By Convicted Felon, Attempted Sex Battery w Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Battery Cause Bodily Harm/Disability, Aggravated Assault Deadly Weapon Without Intent, Armed False Imprisonment, and Use/Display Firearm During a Felony.

According to the arrest affidavit the incident happened on 10/15/2018. According to the report Kriston accompanied a female friend to a residence, which the victim was at. The female friend of Kriston’s left to get food and that is when the alleged attack occurred.

According to the affidavit after the female friend left Kriston asked the victim if she had ever been with someone older like him. The victim felt uncomfortable with the comment and began to leave the room. Kriston told her to sit down and lifted his shirt showing the victim a gun. The victim feared that Kriston would shoot her. According to the report Kriston then injected himself with something from a syringe. According to the affidavit Kriston then allegedly put a needle to the victims arm. The victim was allegedly given a choice to either take the needle or some crystal from a bag, while pointing to his gun. The victim chose the crystal from the bag, thinking it would be a slower reaction and she still had a chance of escaping. According to the affidavit the victim thought he would put it in her hand, but he allegedly shoved it into her mouth. The crystal substance started to burn the victims mouth and some fell out. The suspect allegedly shoved more into the victims mouth. Kriston then allegedly started touching the victim inappropriately. According to the affidavit the victim was struggling with Kriston. Moments later the female friend returned and the victim cried out to her. Kriston allegedly stopped attacking the victim at this time. The victim allegedly collapsed and crawled to called for help. Kriston and the female friend exited the residence together. The victim was taken to the hospital and advised that she had been given methamphetamine. The victim denied ever taking the substance before. Pictures of the victims allegedly burned tongue were taken as evidence.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kriston on October 18, 2018. He was provided a $45,000 bond and is awaiting his next court hearing. Kriston is a convicted felon who has been arrested 19 times in Polk County since 1997.

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