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Rockin On The River Rocks The River For Fourth Straight Year

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Rockin On The River Rocks The River For Fourth Straight Year

Rockin On The River Rocks The River For Fourth Straight Year

by James Coulter

The 4th Annual Rockin on the River had many sights to behold over the weekend: Spanish moss dangling from the forest canopy, cyan waters rippling from the wake of passing airboats, the spectrum of motorcycles pulling in from the poker run.

Perhaps the most interesting sight was that of a bright yellow school bus parked at the front of the event with the banners of its school, Victory Ridge Academy, waving in the afternoon wind.

This was no ordinary bus. This was actually a bus converted into a food truck, Tony’s Cafe, as part of the school’s culinary program that helps students learn food preparation and job skills.

Rockin on the River served as the food truck’s inaugural launch, and though it initially experienced some technical difficulties with power and utilities, the truck managed to experience a great start.

Despite issues with the generator and cords, which prevented it from having power until 9:30pm on Friday, the truck managed to jump start the program by selling plenty of nachos and hot dogs.

“Whether we sell a lot of food today or not, it is all about this bus being here so people can see what their dollars go to help the kids,” said Steve Whittaker, Director of Educational Leadership.

More than simply selling food to hungry concert attendees, the bus served as an opportunity for the school to share its mission with other people and to show them what they have to offer.

As such, the bus managed to attract many potential families and students, many of whom were interested in what the school for special needs students had to offer them.

One local resident, a cook who runs one of the food stands at Camp Mack River Resort, even volunteered to visit the school and teach the students the tricks of his trade, Whittaker said.

“People who have never seen us before or know anything about us can know what we are doing,” he said. “It is a great visual way to show how we are helping our kids.”

Rockin on the River is the annual fundraiser hosted at Camp Mack River Resort in Lake Wales which serves to raise funds and awareness for Autism and other special needs.

Proceeds from the event go towards many local benefactors, including Victory Ridge Academy, a Lake Wales school that serves the educational and therapeutic needs of special needs students.

Since starting five years ago, the event has only grown bigger and better with more attendees, live bands, and especially donations and sponsors.

Such success has been prompted by word-of-mouth, with people not only sharing the fun and festivities of the event, but also the good causes that it helps to raise funds and awareness for, explained John Straughn, Event Founder and Head Chairman.

“We have people in good spirits and raising money for a good cause,” he said. “All our volunteers have helped it make a clean family fun event with good music and good food.”

Recently, the event’s venue, Camp Mack, entered into a licensed agreement with Guy Harvey Outpost to help provide branding and marketing, especially through sportsman and bass fishing opportunities and events.

Mark Ellert, President of Guy Harvey Outpost, was especially pleased by Rockin on the River, both because of the food and festivities, as well as the overall opportunity to raise awareness for Autism and other special needs.

“It is a fabulous opportunity to bring people together for a great cause,” he said. “There are so many people involved in the festival…so it has been a success.”

The two-day long event drew in attendees by the hundreds over the weekend with it live music, festivities, and food, the latter of which was provided by many local vendors such as Idle Zone, Rick’s BBQ, and Kick Yo Butts BBQ.

Bracken Smith has been kicking butts with Kick Yo Butts BBQ since 2009, with his pulled pork egg rolls and other unique food items garnering his team with countless awards.

Having received so much of his success from the local community, he only sees fit to give back to the community by helping out with event such as this, especially since a few of his team members have family with Autism.

“This is a chance to give back,” he said. “It is about the reaction that we get from people, a lot of food donated to a good cause.”

Road Closure due to Traffic Crash with Injuries

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Road Closure due to Traffic Crash with Injuries

Road Closure due to Traffic Crash with Injuries


A traffic crash with injuries is currently being investigated by Auburndale Police Department at the intersection of Recker Highway and U.S. 92 East, resulting in road closures. All East bound traffic on U.S. 92 is currently being diverted south on Recker Highway. The northbound lanes of Recker Highway are closed from Derby Avenue to U.S. Highway 92 West. At this time, there is no definitive time the roadways and intersections will be re-opened. The traffic crash is also causing heavy traffic congestion in the area of U.S. Highway 92 and Berkley Road. Please avoid the area if possible.

Lakeland Man Arrested After He Attempted to Steal From Publix Twice

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Lakeland Man Arrested After He Attempted to Steal From Publix Twice

Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 45-year-old Juan Varela-Roman Sr. of Lakeland on March 20, 2018, for Grand Theft (F3) and Petit Theft (M2). Varela-Roman attempted to steal approximately $688.00 in merchandise, including steaks, seafood, automotive products, beer, and toilet paper, from two separate incidents from the Publix located at 6767 Highway 98 North in Lakeland.

According to the arrest affidavit, on February 1, 2018, Varela-Roman walked into the 98 North Publix and loaded his grocery cart full with items valued at $289.00. After he passed all points of sale and walked out of the store, a store manager approached him and asked him for his receipt. Instead of providing a receipt, he left behind the groceries and drove away in his car (with an obscured temporary license plate).

The second incident occurred on March 1, 2018, exactly a month later, in which Varela-Roman walked into the same Publix, loaded his grocery cart with items valued at $379 and left the store. When store managers followed him out to his car, a white Acura that was registered to Varela-Roman’s wife, he jumped into the passenger’s seat, and crawled into the driver’s seat. He left the items in the grocery cart and immediately drove away. His second try was not any more successful than his first.

“Varela-Roman was unsuccessful the first time he tried to steal from this Publix. And yet, he brazenly goes back to that same Publix for the second time. Some people don’t learn. He’s obviously done this before-it’s not his first rodeo.”  Grady Judd, Sheriff

Valera-Roman is a suspect in at least two Lakeland Police Department store theft cases. Roman’s wife, Saritza Valle-Pena, was charged by complaint affidavit by the Auburndale Police Department for retail theft at the Publix located at 606 Havendale Blvd.

A PCSO detective interviewed Mr. Varela-Roman and Ms. Valle-Pena. Both reviewed the video surveillance from the North 98 Publix store, and both confirmed that Varela-Roman was the suspect in the video, but he denied any knowledge of either theft, even though he was identified by store staff, by the vehicle he was driving, and by video. Mr. Roman was taken into custody, and charged with petit theft first offense F.S.S. 812.014(3)(a) for the incident that occurred on 02/01/2018, and Grand Theft over $300 less than $5,000 F.S.S. 812.014(2)(c)1 for the incident that occurred on 03/01/2018.

Varela-Roman Sr. was born in Puerto Rico and has a valid Florida Driver’s license. He was charged and booked into the Polk County Jail on Tuesday, March 20. He was released after posting a $1,250.00 bond.

To watch video surveillance from Publix on February 1st and March 1st, please click here:

Guy Harvey Resorts Raises Flag On Its First Outdoor Resort at Lake Kissimmee’s Camp Mack

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Guy Harvey Resorts Raises Flag On Its First Outdoor Resort at Lake Kissimmee’s Camp Mack

PCSO Conducting Death Investigating In Unincorporated Lake Wales

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PCSO Conducting Death Investigating In Unincorporated Lake Wales

UPDATE 3/20/2018

The following is an excerpt from the probable cause portion of the affidavit charging 16-year-old Dillen Murray (DOB 10/25/1991) of 247 2nd Avenue North in Lake Wales, with 1 count first degree murder (Capital Felony), 1 count possession of marijuana (M-1), and 1 count possession of paraphernalia (M-1), in the homicide of 15-year-old Giovanni “Gio” Diaz of 153 Lake Caloosa Circle North in Lake Wales, who was an 8th grader at Frostproof Middle-High.

As a reminder and as described by Sheriff Judd this morning, the information in the first part of this
probable cause is the detailed and elaborate story the suspect first told detectives, determined to be lies after the suspect confessed. The second part of the affidavit is the information the suspect gave to detectives when he confessed, which also matches the evidence and the witness statements.
PROBABLE CAUSE:

On Monday, March 19, 2018, at approximately 1451 hours, the defendant, Dillen Alex Murray, called 911 and advised he beat his friend with a baseball

bat; his friend was bleeding and lying in the woods.

Deputies responded to the wooded area to the east of Caloosa Blvd. and Lake Blvd. in Lake
Wales, FL, where they found the victim, Giovanni Diaz, unresponsive with severe facial trauma. The victim was declared deceased on March 19, 2018 at 1507 hours by Polk County Fire Rescue personnel.  An aluminum Tee ball bat, which was dented and covered in blood, was found on the ground next to the victim’s body.

Contact was made with the defendant and his father, Paul Murray, outside the defendant’s residence. When the defendant was detained by deputies, he was found to have a clear plastic baggie containing
a green leafy substance, in his pants pocket. The green leafy substance emitted the odor of unburnt cannabis. The defendant and his father both consented to the defendant being transported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Southeast Substation, to be interviewed.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Homicide detectives responded to the aforementioned wooded
area, and observed the victim deceased in the woods. The victim was observed to have extensive blunt force trauma to the head, face, chest, and arms, consistent with being struck multiple times with a baseball bat.

During a post-Miranda interview, the defendant stated the victim approached him on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, and requested they meet up on Monday, March 19, 2018, to smoke cannabis in the woods. The defendant then stated when they approached the wooded area described above, the victim asked
the defendant if he wanted to play baseball after they smoked cannabis.
The defendant further stated he told the victim he had a baseball bat at home, at which time he went to retrieve the baseball bat. The defendant described the baseball bat as being a metal bat, silver in color, with “Tee ball” written on it. The bat was also described as being older with  scratches, but no dents. Upon returning to the aforementioned wooded area, the defendant and the victim entered the woods. The defendant advised he sat on the ground and began to “roll a blunt” while the victim stated he needed to “pee”, and told the defendant not to turn around. The defendant then advised while he was “rolling the blunt”, the victim shouted that an ant bit him on his penis, and again told the defendant not to turn around.
At that time, the defendant advised he heard the victim step right behind him and heard the bat being picked up from the ground. As the defendant

turned around, he advised he observed the victim holding the bat with both hands, above his head, and was preparing to hit him (the defendant) on the head with the bat.

The defendant stated he raised his left arm to block the attack, resulting in the victim striking him on his left forearm. The defendant then stated he stood up and grabbed the bat, at which time the victim punched him in the right side of his face with a closed fist, while releasing his hold of the bat. The defendant further stated once he took the bat from the victim, the victim backed up and removed
a pair of light blue gloves he was wearing, throwing the gloves on the ground. The defendant also stated the victim began to charge him as if he was going to punch him. The defendant advised he swung the bat at the victim, striking the victim in the left side of his face, causing the victim to stagger backward. The defendant then advised his “blood began to boil” and he “wanted to kill him”, at which time he struck the victim six times in the victim’s head and face. The victim then fell to the ground, and the defendant struck the victim three additional times; once in the “windpipe”, once in the nose, and once on top of the head. The defendant further advised he realized what he had done, threw down the bat, grabbed the gloves the
victim had been wearing, and ran out of the woods to get help.

When asked why the victim would want to attack him, the defendant stated approximately two weeks prior, the victim tried to show him a Rubik’s Cube, but he (the defendant) told him it was “lame”. The defendant then stated approximately two years prior, the victim “f******” a girl he (the defendant) liked, but he was unable to advise why that would cause the victim to want to attack him.

During this investigation, Det. Fulcher conducted interviews with several known acquaintances of the defendant and the victim. Det. Fulcher learned the defendant had recently found out, within the last several days, the victim had sexual intercourse with a girl the defendant had feelings for and had dated in the past.

Det. Fulcher also conducted sworn audio-recorded interview with a known acquaintance of the defendant,
who stated on Sunday, March 18, 2018, the defendant told them he wanted to know what it was like to kill somebody.

When confronted with this information, the defendant stated approximately one week prior to March 19, 2018, the victim and the defendant were smoking cannabis in the woods, when the victim told him he “f******” the girl he was “in love with”. The defendant then stated this angered him. On March 19, 2018, the defendant stated he and the victim went to the woods to “talk”. The defendant then stated the victim was talking about how he “f*****” the girl the defendant was in love with. The defendant advised he pointed the bat at the victim and told him to stop talking about the girl he loved, and the victim called
him a “p*****” and told him he was not scared. The defendant then advised he struck the victim in the head with the bat, and then continued to strike the victim in the head until the victim fell to the ground. While the victim was lying on the ground, the defendant continued to strike the victim in the face and head. The defendant advised he wanted to make sure the victim was not going to talk bad about the girl he loves anymore, which is why he struck the victim in the face while the victim was lying on the ground.

During the interview with the defendant, it was noted he did not have any injuries consistent with being punched in the face or being struck with a bat in the forearm.

During a search of the victim’s cellphone, multiple messages were observed sent to the victim from the
defendant. On March 19, 2017 at approximately 1027 hours, the defendant sent the victim a text message stating, “Yo…Meet me at rocks after school so we can chill”, to which the victim responds with “Ight”. On March 19, 2017 at approximately 1412 hours, the defendant sent the victim thirteen text messages, asking the victim where he was and if he was close to “the rocks”. The victim did not send any text message response to the defendant during that time.

Based on my interviews and investigation, I determined the defendant committed the criminal offense of 1st degree murder, when the defendant intentionally and with a premeditated design to kill, struck the victim multiple times with a metal bat, which resulted in the death of the victim. The defendant then committed the criminal offense of possession of cannabis less than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia, when the defendant possessed the cannabis in a clear plastic baggie in his pants pocket.

Update 7:48pm: Sheriff Grady Judd advised that around 3pm, today, two boys went into the wooded area off Caloosa Blvd. In Unincorporated Lake Wales. One boy, Dillen Murray 10/25/01, beat another boy, Giovanni Diaz, to death with a bat. A witness saw Murray leaving the woods and allegedly told them he “wailed” on his friend with a bat. The witness to Murray to go home and call 911. The witness went into the woods and found Diaz lifeless body. Murray meanwhile went and called 911, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. Murray has a past of assault charges for battering Diaz in the past. A motive has not been confirmed yet, nor is it clear if this was homicide or if it was self defense.

We will update more as information is made available.

———————–

Update From PCSO: In response to your inquiries, the PCSO Homicide Unit

is investigating a suspicious death on Caloosa Blvd, cross street Lake

Blvd, in Lake Wales, this afternoon (Monday, March 19, 2018).

Sheriff

Judd is heading to the scene and will brief the media at the media staging

area, which is the Kangaroo Store located at US Hwy 27 and 1st Avenue North

in Lake Wales (near Warner University). If you will please head that way,

the PIOs will meet you there.  The media briefing will not occur until

after 6:00 p.m., as it will take time for Sheriff Judd to arrive and gather

details.

The area where the death occurred is near a mobile

home park and the suspect is in custody.

Lake Wales, Florida – The Polk County Sheriffs Office is currently conducting a death investigation in Unincorporated Lake Wales. The scene of the investigation is right off Caloosa Lake Dr. which is South of the City of Lake Wales. The sheriff’s department has brought in the mobile command center & the forensic trailer. According to witnesses a body was found in a wooded area, just off Caloosa Lake Dr. It is unknown when this occurred exactly, but the area became quite active around 3:40pm.

According to Carrie Hortsman, Public Information Officer with the Polk County Sheriffs Office, a death investigation is underway, but no further details are available. We will update the article as more information is available.

40th Annual Central Park Art Festival Proves Anything Can Be Art

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40th Annual Central Park Art Festival Proves Anything Can Be Art

40th Annual Central Park Art Festival Proves Anything Can Be Art

by James Coulter

What do rusty nails, empty glass bottles, and dried lima beans all have in common?

To the untrained eye, such items would be considered garbage; but in the eyes of an artist, these are all material that can be used to make art.

From crucifixes made from nails to necklaces and other jewelry made from dried beans, all of these art pieces and more were on full display for two days during the 40th Annual Central Park Art Festival in Winter Haven.

For the past 40 years, this local art festival, hosted by the Ridge Art Association, has served as a venue for local artists within and outside of the county to showcase their artwork.

While the event normally spans three parks in Downtown Winter Haven, with one park currently under construction, the festival was concentrated mostly within the Central Park location, making the entire experience more tightly knit.

This year’s festival had a diverse selection of artwork ranging from traditional oil and acrylic paintings to modern art pieces made from found items.

Regardless of the type of art, the overall quality remains consistent to the criteria created by the Ridge Art Association, ensuring that their event showcases the best of the best.

“It is not like fun crafts, it is a fine art festival, and we make sure they [the artists] keep a certain criteria…and that they have a good presentation, and that keeps the artists strong and the customers coming back,” explained Christy Hemenway, Ridge Art Association Executive Director.

Hemenway loves being able to see close friends and associates coming back time and again to show off their latest artwork, allowing her event to become a very close-knit community among artists and patrons alike.

“Some of my artists have been around for a very long time and we keep getting new ones,” she explained. “They love coming to my show because it is such a community show and not an over the top organization.”

One of these regular artists, Jinsheng Song from Fort McCoy, specializes in acrylic and oil paintings that he creates in layers to make it appear as though the paint is rising from off of the canvas.

His main inspiration is with conservation, as he cares about natural landscapes and ensuring that future generations can enjoy them, he said.

“I do not want people cutting down our trees,” he said. “I want them protecting the environment, and that inspires me to protect the enviroment.”

While artists like him have been around for many years, others like Peter Dragon arrived to this year’s event as their first time ever.

Dragon was inspired by friends who have been in the festival before to showcase his own unique artwork, created in a surreal style that feels reminiscent of a Tim Burton movie.

Most of his creations are the remnants of his childhood imagination, with many of them based on the memories of his father who was imprisoned for murder when he was only a child.

As such, many of his artwork includes dark black and white stripes like prison outfits and numbers like the prison inmate number for his father.

“It is a very surreal style,” he said. “[It’s] stuff when I was a kid, it would come from my imagination.”

While such artwork revels in the surreal, others like the photographs of Bill Sargent of Lakeland blur the lines between photographs and portraits.

His photographs are taken with a soft light source with enough ambient light to take the edge off of the shadows, making the subjects appear almost as if they were painted with oil paint.

“People have asked me if they are painting or photographs,” he said. “They have a hard time telling the difference. It is the nature of the light.”

While artists like him create their artwork with colors, others like author Tom Levine create theirs with words.

The author of “Paradise Interrupted” and other novels, Levine loves to write humorous and light-hearted stories that spread enjoyment to his readers.

Keeping in tune with the overall art festival, he appeared in an apron hand painted to make him look like a mermaid.

While other artists and authors at least attempt to make their inspiration appear deep and creative, Levine honestly admits that his biggest inspiration is money, which keeps him coming back time and again.

“My books are the most fabulous books that anyone has ever seen, and they bring joy, happiness to people who buy them,” he said. “With the vast amounts of money that I rake in…people do not hesitate handing money to me.”

Unpredictable, Unplanned Fun At Bartow St. Patrick’s Day Un-Parade

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Unpredictable, Unplanned Fun At Bartow St. Patrick’s Day Un-Parade

Unpredictable, Unplanned Fun At Bartow St. Patrick’s Day Un-Parade

by James Coulter

Downtown Bartow came alive with the luck of the Irish as plenty of laddies and lassies celebrated St. Patrick’s Day early with the annual St. Patrick’s Day Un-Parade and Friday Fest.

The highlight of the event was the parade—or rather, the un-parade—with more than a dozen floats and hundreds of attendees sporting green and Irish spirit as they made their way down Main Street from Nye Jordan Park toward Friday Fest along Central Avenue and Main Street.

What makes this wild and wacky parade an “un-parade” is how un-planned, un-predictable, and un-expected it can be, as anyone willing to march in the parade is more than invited to participate for free without registering ahead of time.

What results can almost be described as “organized chaos” with a parade featuring anything and everything from belly dancers to golf carts to the local high school marching band, the latter of whom were the beneficiaries of this afternoon’s event, the proceeds of which would go towards their class trip to Chicago.

For the past ten years, this unique parade has been a local tradition that helps to kick off the St. Patrick’s Day festivities early, with its impromptu nature making it a different experience each and every year.

“They just show up at the park and participate in the parade,” explained Linda Holcomb, Executive Director of Main Street Bartow.

The parade marched along Main Street and ended at Friday Fest, the downtown area’s monthly event providing live music, food vendors, and other forms of entertainment.

Hosted on the third Friday of each month, Friday Fest always has a different theme, with March’s theme celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with plenty of green, especially in the beer.

Performing at the event was a local band, The Sofa Kings, which provided live music to accompany the other festivities at the downtown festival.

Holcomb has been the executive director for the past year, and has been involved with Downtown Main Street for several years. Each and every years she has seen the annual event grow each and every time.

“We hope that it will grow each year with more people coming to participate,” she said. “I love the planning…[and] making each one different, [with] them growing with fun, community involvement, [and] the awareness to the downtown area.”

Sponsoring this month’s Friday Fest event was Emily Spath Clark of Spath’s Jewelers, who has been contributing and participating within the event for many years, and who keeps coming back time and again for the energy and familiar faces.

“I think Bartow has been a great community, and when you have been blessed by this community, when you have been blessed by its people, it’s only natural that you would want to give back,” she said. “We have an awesome community event with awesome participation.”

Aside from the high school band’s class trip to Chicago, the event also served as a venue for many other local organizations to help raise proceeds for their own endeavors.

One such endeavor was the local Relay for Life, with the team selling moon pies and other concessions to help raise money for their team and event this year.

“We already raised more money than what our goal was,” explained Myra Mir, Relay for Life Head Chair. “I really like the parade and all the people here, and I think coming together as a community in Bartow, I really love that.”

Lake Wales Medical Center and Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center Have Resumed Normal Visiting Hours Following Flu Season

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Lake Wales Medical Center and Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center Have Resumed Normal Visiting Hours Following Flu Season

Lake Wales, FL – Lake Wales Medical Center and Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center have resumed normal visiting hours and guidance following one of the worst flu seasons in decades.

This year’s flu season has peaked and is now in a steady decline, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“We are confident that the worst of a tough flu season is over and we are encouraging patients who may have put off care to make sure they get back on track,” says Chief Nursing Officer Andrea Clyne.

The incidence of flu in Polk County has been falling over the past few weeks. The consistent decline in cases follows a season where influenza impacted local schools, workplaces and hospital emergency rooms.

Flu season also prompted some people to postpone care for chronic or elective health issues, either due to cases of the flu itself, or out of a fear of contact with flu in public spaces.

“Taking precautions is the best possible way to avoid catching any virus,” Clyne said. “Get the flu shot early in the season, take proactive hand-washing and hygiene steps, and increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. But don’t put off important care of chronic conditions, or allow an emerging condition to worsen by waiting out the season. Healthcare facilities take aggressive measures to prevent the spread of viruses – likely more so than any other public space.”

This year’s flu season was a good reminder of the importance of getting vaccinated and building immunity early and over time. According to the CDC, it’s not too late to get your flu shot this year. If you need a flu shot, or assistance with a plan for building your general health and immune system, call your primary care physician and develop a personal and comprehensive wellness plan that will support you throughout the year. If you need a primary care physician in the Lake Wales area, call 844-634-DOCS (3627) or visit www.LakeWalesMedicalGroup.com. In the Haines City / Davenport area, you can call 863-419-2420 or visit www.HeartofFloridaPhysicianGroup.com.

Haines City Homicide Suspect Arrested in Texas

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Haines City Homicide Suspect Arrested in Texas

Haines City Homicide Suspect Arrested in Texas


HAINES CITY, FL – McLennan County Sheriff’s Office Apprehension Unit arrested Haines City homicide suspect, 38-year-old Maclovio Salas, early Monday morning.

The suspect was found in his vehicle located outside a residence in McGregor, Texas. The Waco Police Department is currently working to obtain a search warrant for the vehicle.

Original Release:

Haines City Police Department Press Release

HAINES CITY, FL – Haines City Police Department is in search of a suspect in a local homicide. Police responded to the area of N 18th Street, Haines City in reference to a gunshot victim early morning, March 17. The victim was located outside of a residence and later transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

The suspect, Maclovio Salas, 38, had three children in common with the victim, Ricio Mozqueda, 37. The children ages 17, 14 and a 6-years-old were all at the residence when the crime occurred.

“As if this isn’t already horrific enough, the children were exposed to the scene with massive amounts of blood,” said Chief Elensky. “They watched their mother die in cold blood.”

The suspect is possibly driving a black, Toyota Camry with the Florida license plate number 1075VU, which is registered to his sister. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous. Please call 911 if you see this vehicle.

Detectives were able to obtain a murder warrant with the assistance of State Attorney, Brian Haas and his team. Chief Elensky will be available for comments at the Haines City Police Department at today at 1:00 p.m.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the suspect is encouraged to contact the Haines City Police Department at 863 421-3636.

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 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!!

Lake Wales Police Investigating Fatal Crash On S.R. 60 In Front Of Walmart Sunday Afternoon

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Lake Wales Police Investigating Fatal Crash On S.R. 60 In Front Of Walmart Sunday Afternoon

On Sunday March 18, 2018 at around 12:49 PM Lake Wales Police responded to a single vehicle traffic crash on State Road 60 in front of Bridgemaster Fishing Products located at 2131 State Road 60 East. The crash involved a single vehicle and it appears the driver lost control as they traveled West on State Road 60.

As a result of losing control, the vehicle appeared to have rolled at least once coming to rest upside down. All of the occupants were Hispanic males. The driver was wearing a seat belt and was transported to Lake Wales Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. A rear passenger was ejected from the vehicle and was transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with serious injuries. A second passenger sitting in the right front seat was pronounced deceased at the scene and was wearing a seat belt.

The driver is identified as Donis Enrique Perez Villacinda, age 51, of Lake Wales. He was transported to Lake Wales Medical Center and later released. He was taken into custody for driving with no license and causing a crash which resulted in death. After being released from the hospital he was to be transported to the Polk County jail.

The passenger that was ejected has been identified as Miguel Ruiz, age 43 of Lake Wales. He was transported via helicopter to Lakeland Regional Medical Center and remains there at this time.

The front seat passenger has been identified as Jose Perez Ordonez, age 45 and also from Lake Wales. He was wearing a seat belt but was partially ejected.  He was deceased when emergency personnel arrived.

The west bound lanes of State Road 60 have been closed since the crash at 12:49 PM and will remain shut down as the investigation continues. Traffic is being directed down Evergreen Drive until the road can be reopened.

This case is still under investigation as alcohol may have been a factor.

If you have any information regarding this crash please contact Officer Robertson at the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223 ext. 258.

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