Home Blog Page 602

14-Year-Old Student Arrested for Threatening George Jenkins High School

Staff Reporter
-
0
14-Year-Old Student Arrested for Threatening George Jenkins High School

On Tuesday, February 27, 2018, Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 14-year-old Dakota Hall of Lakeland for one count written threat to kill or injure others (F-2). Hall, who was recently expelled from Lakeland Christian School (LCS), posted two threats via social media (Snapchat) indicating he would shoot and kill numerous students.

According to the arrest affidavit, on February 22, 2018, a student at George Jenkins High School (GJHS) saw a Snapchat post about students wanting to plan a walkout and a peaceful protest at GJHS. Hall posted a follow-up response on Snapchat saying, “I don’t even go to GJ [George Jenkins] but honestly this is so dumb. I might pull up and AR-15 those dumb a**es sitting outside.” Hall was using the name “Cody” instead of his real name. The student who saw this post reported it to the School Resource Deputy at GJHS.

Deputies were able to identify “Cody” as Hall. Hall admitted to deputies that it was his post and his username. He told deputies that his comment was “really stupid.”

On February 26, 2018, PCSO deputies responded to LCS after students reported seeing a Snapchat video in which Hall was making threats to shoot at students. In the video Hall is holding what appears to be a wooden toy rifle saying, “guys, so today at school for show and tell, I’m going to bring my trusty uhh state of my AR-15 you know, I’m just gonna walk in and be like hey you’re that kid that bullied me and then trip and pull the trigger and I don’t know how that happened but somehow I shot 17 people and killed a lot more.” Hall admitted to deputies he made the video, but intended it to be a “joke.” He admitted that “some people may not see it that way.” When asked what he meant about going to GJHS to “AR-15” students, he replied, “Like what happened at Parkland High School.”

The toy gun Hall posed with in the video was found during a search of his home.

“Our deputies have investigated numerous school threats over the past two weeks. Most of them have been rumors, but we treat any and all threats relating to schools and students very seriously. If we find that a threat has been made and criminal charges are applicable, make no mistake – we will arrest the person responsible. These situations are not to be taken lightly. We appreciate the students who saw something, and said something, by reporting it to their school resource deputy and their school administrators.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Tire Recycling and Community Cleanup Planned on March 3, 2018

Staff Reporter
-
0
Tire Recycling and Community Cleanup Planned on March 3, 2018

Tire Recycling and Community Cleanup Planned on March 3, 2018

February 20, 2018– Keep Polk County Beautiful will host a FREE Tire Recycling Event on Saturday, March 3, 2018 from 8am- noon at the Haines City Police Department, 35400 US Hwy 27, Haines City.  Polk County Residents may dispose of up to 24 tires at no additional charge.  Tires on the rim will be accepted.  NO COMMERCIAL WASTE WILL BE ACCEPTED.  Absolutely no exceptions.  For more information, contact Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. at (863)875-8911.

Waste Hauling Services Donated by: Advanced Disposal

Join the City of Haines City for their annual Great American Cleanup from 8am-noon at the Haines City Police COPS Station – 1008 Ave. D.  To pre-register or for event information, contact Capt. Harris at (863)421-3636 xt 2226 or email – [email protected] .

In addition to these cleanup efforts….

Polk County’s Waste and Recycling Division will be hosting a Household Hazardous Waste – Mobile Collection Event at NO Additional Charge to Polk County Residents.  This event will be held at the Haines City Public Works Complex – 300 N. 5th Street from 8am-12 pm.  For information on this event, contact Polk County’s Waste and Recycling Household Hazardous Waste Facility at (863)284-4319 or visit polkwastewise.net.

It is a violation of Florida Administrative Code Rules to transport more than 24 Waste Tires over public highways without a permit.  Violation of this rule would constitute a 1st degree criminal misdemeanor and be punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000 and/or by 6 months in jail for further information please regarding the handling of waste tires please visit the DEP website http://www.dep.state.fl.us/ .

For Tire Recycling limits and questions, contact KPCB before the event date.

CSX Rail Road Closures Beyond County Control

Staff Reporter
-
0
CSX Rail Road Closures Beyond County Control
CSX Rail Road Closures Beyond County Control
 
Bartow, Fla. (February 26, 2018) — The Polk County Board of County Commissioners and the County Manager’s Office are aware that CSX Transportation’s upgrading of 16 rail crossings in the southwest Winter Haven area has created repeated inconveniences for county commuters; however, there is little remedy for the county to improve the situation. Due to longstanding statutory agreements, CSX has near autonomous power to close roadway crossings along their rail lines.
 
Typically, Polk County provides traffic re-direction for work occurring at CSX’s public road crossings. For this project, CSX is using an out-of-state contractor that is performing the repairs and providing for the maintenance of traffic simultaneously. Neither CSX nor their contractor has communicated changes in scheduling to county staff; particularly updates related to work delays and extra detour days.
 
Anyone wanting to report a public road crossing maintenance issue or complaint should call CSX at 800-332-4697. The automated phone menu directs callers to press #3 for road closure information. Polk County asks drivers to remain patient, cautious and to add time to their trips through areas where road closures occur. Despite the annoyance, Polk County recognizes these repairs are necessary and will make for better and safer driving conditions when completed.
 

Cooking On The Ridge: Angel Chicken Pasta

Staff Reporter
-
0
Cooking On The Ridge: Angel Chicken Pasta

Cooking On The Ridge: Angel Chicken Pasta

Ingredients

 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 cup butter
1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
1/2 cup white wine
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed golden mushroom soup
4 ounces cream cheese with chives
1 pound angel hair pasta

Directions

  • Prep 30 m

  • Cook 1 h

  • Ready In 1 h 30 m

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  2. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in the package of dressing mix. Blend in wine and golden mushroom soup. Mix in cream cheese, and stir until smooth. Heat through, but do not boil. Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Pour sauce over.
  3. Bake for 60 minutes in the preheated oven. Twenty minutes before the chicken is done, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Cook pasta until al dente, about 5 minutes. Drain. Serve chicken and sauce over pasta.

Pedestrian Struck & Killed On Rifle Range Road Monday Night

Staff Reporter
-
0
Pedestrian Struck & Killed On Rifle Range Road Monday Night

Polk County Sheriffs Press Release

PCSO Traffic Unit Investigating Traffic Fatality – Pedestrian

Fatally Struck by Car in Wahneta

The PCSO Traffic Unit is investigating

a vehicle versus pedestrian crash that occurred in the Wahneta area of

Winter Haven last evening, February 26, 2018, during which the pedestrian

was fatally struck.

Around 9:15 p.m. on Monday night, a 2007

beige Mercury Milan being driven by 23-year-old Dekeidra McClures of Auburndale

was heading northbound on Rifle Range Road approaching 11th Street East

when an adult male darted out onto the road in front of her car. She was

unable to avoid striking him, and he was declared deceased on-scene. It

appears he was crossing from the west side of the road to the east side

of the road.

Both occupants of the car – the driver and her

son – were wearing seatbelts, and neither impairment nor excessive speed

on her part are suspected. Neither were injured.

Traffic deputies

are still trying to positively identify the victim, who is an adult Hispanic

male believed to live nearby. He did not have any identification on him,

and his fingerprints were scanned but no results were found.

His

name will be released once we are able to make positive identification.

Rifle Range Road in that area was shut down for approximately

three hours during the investigation.

Lakeland Police Investigating Fatal Motorcycle Crash

Staff Reporter
-
0
Lakeland Police Investigating Fatal Motorcycle Crash

Update:

News Release from Lakeland Police Department:

LAKELAND, FL (February 27, 2018) – On February 27, 2018 at 5:27 a.m., a contracted refuse truck for the Polk County Waste & Recycling Department was being driven northbound on Socrum Loop Rd. The driver of this truck, Alvin T. Lamar, 43 years old, failed to see the victim, Michael Louis Dimezza, 53 years old, who was stopped at the traffic signal on his motorcycle facing northbound at the intersection of Socrum Loop and Lakeland Park Bl.

The refuse truck struck Dimezza from the rear which caused him to be ejected off his motorcycle. PCEMS & LFD arrived on scene and began to provide life-saving measures; however, he was pronounced deceased on the scene.

Members of the Traffic Homicide Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation and the roadway was shut down for approximately 4 ½ hours. This investigation is still ongoing by members of the Traffic Homicide Unit and no charges have been filed at this time.

Original Release:

Lakeland, Florida – The Lakeland Police are currently on scene of a fatal crash. The crash which took place early Tuesday morning involves a motorcycle and garbage truck near 4500 block of Socrum Loop Rd. The northbound lanes will be blocked for at least 2 hrs. We will update as more information becomes available.

Florida Department of Corrections Sergeant Arrested for Domestic Violence

Staff Reporter
-
0
Florida Department of Corrections Sergeant Arrested for Domestic Violence

PCSO Release:

On Sunday, February 25, 2018, PCSO deputies arrested 38-year-old Jarvis Lamar Stewart for one count false imprisonment (F-3) and domestic violence (M-1). Stewart, who told deputies that he is a Florida Department of Corrections Sergeant with the Lake Correctional Institute, battered his wife and prevented her from calling 9-1-1.

According to the arrest affidavit, Stewart and his wife began arguing about her going to bed. The victim told deputies that when she was exiting the bathroom, Stewart stood up from the bed and poked her in the head with two fingers hard enough that she fell. Stewart then began punching her in the face, pushed her inside the walk-in closet (located inside the bathroom) and began kicking her in the face multiple times.

She told deputies that at one point Stewart left the bedroom and she attempted to lock him out. When he was able to get back inside the bedroom he grabbed her by her shirt and threw her to the floor. She told deputies that she was begging for him to stop. At that time she was able to leave the downstairs bathroom and run to the upstairs bathroom where she was able to call 9-1-1.

“This horrible violence against his wife is shocking. Thank God she wasn’t killed. And thankfully, she was able to call for help. It’s hard to fathom this kind of behavior from someone we should be able to trust. We will do everything we can to make sure he is held accountable for his criminal conduct.” Grady Judd, Sheriff

The victim was taken to a local hospital and treated for her injuries.

Jarvis Stewart has a previous arrest in 1998 from Pensacola Police Department for uttering a forged counterfeit bill and petit theft.

Jarvis Stewart was charged and booked into the Polk County Jail on the above charges.

Inquiries about his employment should be directed to the Florida Department of Corrections.  Per Florida State Statute 119 Jarvis Stewart’s address is exempt from disclosure.

 

 

First Chain of Lakes EggFest Hosted In Winter Haven

Staff Reporter
-
0
First Chain of Lakes EggFest Hosted In Winter Haven

First Chain of Lakes EggFest Hosted In Winter Haven

by James Coulter

When Garry Yanke learned that there was an EggFest being hosted for the first time in Winter Haven, he flew in all the way from California to attend.

As a close friend of BJ Mannix, owner of Mannix Pools and Grills, and the person hosting the grilling competition, Yanke was more than willing to fly in to help put on the event.

“He said that he was hosting an EggFest and would love me to be out here,” Yanke said. “I told him I would be out there right away.”

He and his team, including the two owners of AlbuKirky Seasonings, prepared three courses at their booth, including grilled shrimp with green chili seasoning on a bed of homemade cole slaw and a green seasoning jelly on top of a toasted baguette.

With this being the inaugural EggFest in Winter Haven, Yanke had expected 150 attendees, but saw more than 400, he explained.

Having attended several other EggFests, and even winning several competitions, he enjoyed attending this one the most with the good food, greater music, and overall ideal weather.

“Overall one of the best EggFests I have been to,” he said.

The Chain of Lakes EggFest was hosted last Saturday by Mannix Pool and Grills and sponsored by Somewhere Sports Bar and Grill.

The grilling competition was hosted at the Boys and Girls Club Citrus Center in Winter Haven, with proceeds going towards the Boys and Girls Club and Girls, Inc.

As a Green Egg grill dealer who had visited similar events across the state and country, BJ Mannix wanted to start his own EggFest in his community.

“I love being around people, and the support that these people have had for me and my staff is amazing,” he said.

Despite being the very first event, the EggFest went without a hitch, as more people attended the event than previously anticipated, with many of them arriving from across the country to attend, Mannix explained.

“Next year, we want to make this grow, we want to be able to donate more and more each year,” Mannix said. “Other than that, I appreciate every single person that is involved.”

More than 19 teams manned a total of 40 Green Egg grills, thus helping to promote the grill type, and serving a variety of food ranging from pulled pork barbecue to pizza and enchiladas.

Some vendors arrived from out of state, like Bill Kist and his Pirates Pie team, who drove over 15 hours from Ohio.

He and his team served up pizzas with specialty toppings such as pulled chicken marinated in Cincinnati-style chili and served with cream cheese and shredded Mexican cheese.

With their award-winning food, they had previously won a Green Egg grill at a previous EggFest, as well as the people’s choice award at Porkopolis in Ohio.

“This is our third EggFest,” he said. “We love the big green eggs, the camaraderie, the grills, and we enjoy cooking.”

Many other vendors have competed and attended other similar competitions. Rhonda Hollis, whose brother runs the competition team Nibble Me This, started attending EggFests since last year.

Their team that day served unique entrees ranging from Mexican-style street corn to “drunken” stuffed with pork, cheese, and mustard and served like Cuban sandwiches.

Her brother has been competing for several years, and she began competing with them for the past two, having attended and won several competitions in Tennessee and North Carolina.

At this particular event, Hollis has been able to connect with many friends she met on Facebook and other social media outlets, many of them from across the state and even the country.

“This gives us a reason to get together as a reunion with good friends for a good cause,” she said. “Hope this is an annual thing.”

For many other vendors, this was their very first time competing and allowed them the opportunity to start sharing their food.

Justin Bishop and his friends formed Team B.A.M.F. (Better At Making Food), as they have often prepared their own food for their own personal get together.

That day allowed them to share some of their personal recipes, including “briskets and gravy”, jalapeno and cheddar sausage with maple bourbon, to Korean pork belly tacos with peanut sauce.

Even though that was their very first competition, they managed to have their review bucket filled with plenty of good reviews from attendees.

“We are good friends with BJ and we will do anything for him and to support him,” she said. “We were all in to helping however we can.”

Congratulations to Team NibbleMeThis for winning the inaugural Chain of Lakes Eggfest!

Team BAMF 2nd place

Team Pork’s Peak in 3rd Place

Judges Choice winner was Team Pirate Pies all the way from Cincinnati

For a list of winners from this year’s competition, along with more information on future events, visit their website at: https://chainoflakeseggfest.com/

One Man Dead After Shooting In Ft. Meade Friday Afternoon

Staff Reporter
-
0
One Man Dead After Shooting In Ft. Meade Friday Afternoon

PCSO Detectives Investigating Shooting Death of Fort Meade

Man – Suspect In Custody

Around 1:20 p.m. on Friday, February

23, 2018, PCSO received a 9-1-1 call in reference to a person shot at 10

SW MLK Blvd  in Fort Meade (cross street Charleston Avenue). When first

responders arrived they found 30-year-old Charles McGhee (11/19/87) of

Fort Meade with gunshot wounds. He was transported to Bartow Regional Medical

Center, where he was pronounced deceased.

Witnesses reported

the shooter was 48-year-old Jimmy Lee Hester (DOB 12/17/69) of Wauchula.

Hester arrived at the PCSO Fort Meade Sheriff’s Station to turn himself

in shortly after the shooting occurred. Hester was taken to the PCSO Sheriff’s

Operations Center to be interviewed by Homicide detectives.

This

evening, Hester is being booked into the Polk County Jail and being charged

with Manslaughter, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Tampering

With Evidence. An autopsy will be conducted at a later date.

Hester and McGhee were known to each other and had a dispute earlier

in the week, which likely led to today’s altercation. Both have extensive

criminal histories:

“Here’s another example of how dealing

in drugs, or associating with those who deal in drugs, is violent business.

Luckily this suspect went to jail shortly after killing a man in broad

daylight, before he hurt anyone else.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

McGhee’s criminal history:

01/18/2018 – PCSO – Poss

Marijuana WITS, Poss Marijuana over 20 grams, Poss Drug Paraphernalia,

Keep Structure/Vehicle for Drugs

11/27/2014 – PCSO – Battery

DV

06/30/2012 – Wauchula PD – Operate Motor Vehicle

10/21/2011 – Wauchula PD – Agg Assault with Deadly Weapon, Criminal

Mischief

09/01/2007 – FMPD – Operate Motor Vehicle w/o Valid

DL

Hester’s criminal history:

01/06/2011

– BPD – Probation Violation (2 counts)

09/10/2010 – PCSO –

Poss Drugs, Poss Opiates, Poss Marijuana, Poss Drug Parapernalia, Probation

Violation (3 counts)

07/09/2009 – PCSO – Agg Battery (DV)

06/23/2009 – PCSO – DWLSR, Poss Firearm During Commission of Felony,

Poss Weapon/Ammo by Convicted Felon, Keep Structure for Drug Activity,

Poss Meth WIT Sell, Manufacture Drugs Within 1000 ft of Church/School,

Felony Poss Marijuana, Poss Drug Paraphernalia

06/14/2009 –

PCSO – Battery (2 counts)

10/25/2007 – FMPD – Battery

06/17/2006 – FMPD – DWLSR

06/04/2006 – FMPD – Agg Battery

04/06/2006 – PCSO – Battery DV

06/19/2005 – FMPD

– Battery, Resist LEO, Exposure of Sexual Organs

09/10/2004

– FMPD – Petit Larceny

11/19/2003 – FMPD – Shoplifting

01/05/2002 – PCSO – Probation Violation

03/23/2001 –

Hardee County SO – Battery DV

03/21/2001 – PCSO – Battery

03/32/2001 – PCSO – Battery

08/02/2000 – FMPD – DWLSR

05/16/1998 – PCSO – DWLSR, Poss Drugs WITS

11/17/1997

– PCSO – Petty Larceny, Trespassing

09/30/1997 – FMPD – Distribution

of Control Substance, DWLSR

08/01/1997 – BPD – Contempt -DWLSR

04/22/1997 – FMPD – Utter Forged Counterfeit Bill, Petit Theft,

Trespassing

10/17/1995 – PCSO – Shoplifting, Resist LEO

08/02/1991 – FMPD – Strong Armed Robbery

10/16/1990 –

FMPD – Agg Battery

PCSO Deputies Arrest Two Mulberry Men For Attempting to Fraudulently Register A Vehicle

Staff Reporter
-
0
PCSO Deputies Arrest Two Mulberry Men For Attempting to Fraudulently Register A Vehicle
PCSO Deputies Arrest Two Mulberry Men For Attempting to Fraudulently Register A Vehicle
PCSO Release:
On Thursday, February 22, 2018, Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 25-year-old Atanancio RosasGonzalez and 29-year-old Miguel LazaroPerez both of Mulberry for 1 count fraudulent title application (F-3) and 1 count passing a forged instrument (F-3). RosasGonzalez and LazaroPerez attempted to register a vehicle at the Tax Collector’s Office located at 916 North Massachusetts Avenue in Lakeland. Both LazaroPerez and RosasGonzalez told deputies that they are from Mexico and they are in the country illegally.
 
According to the arrest affidavits, RosasGonzalez and LazaroPerez walked into the Tax Collector’s office and attempted to register a black 2000 Ford Expedition. The Tax Collector’s Office employee told them the title was incomplete and the owner of the vehicle signed the title in the wrong place. They exited the building, telling the employee the owner of the vehicle was outside.
 
About 27 minutes later both RosasGonzalez and LazaroPerez came back into the Tax Collector’s Office and met with a different employee. The application’s co-seller signature line was crossed through and the Seller signature and print name spots were now filled in. The employee brought the application to her supervisor who indicated the new buyer needed to sign an affidavit because the purchase price was in the wrong place, as well as attesting to the purchase price and paying taxes on it.
 
Deputies approached RosasGonzalez while he was completing the title work with an employee. RosasGonzalez told deputies that the Expedition is his sister’s car and that she was at work in Orlando. Furthermore, he told deputies that she was never in the car like they said she was. He admitted that he knew the title needed to be filled out by his sister, but instead LazaroPerez forged her signature on the documents. LazaroPerez does not have the power of attorney for the owner that would allow him to legally complete these actions.
 
“We welcome legal immigrants who want to be law-abiding citizens. These two chose to not only come into our country illegally, but broke the law and forged official documents. We have notified ICE and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
 
During the interview, RosasGonzalez and LazaroPerez admitted that they paid a “coyote” $7,000 in cash to get into the country illegally from Mexico.
 
RosasGonzalez and LazaroPerez have been arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail.
1...601602603...841Page 602 of 841