UPDATE:

Eagle Ridge Mall Incident

 On January 23, 2018 a digital composite image of the person referred to as person of interest 2 was completed. This case remains an active investigation and there is no other information to release at this time. Anyone who recognizes this person of interest is asked to contact Detective Whitney Dukes at (863) 678-4223 extension 269 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.

Eagle Ridge Mall Incident

LWPD Release:

 As the Eagle Ridge Mall investigation continues, we have determined there were only two devices which were ignited in the service corridor. These devices were not IEDs or pipe bombs but rather they were flares disguised with electrical tape. Bomb technicians indicated the devices were not constructed to detonate or explode. Based on the investigation it is believed the damage to the ceiling was caused by the suspect, not an explosion.

At this point in the investigation the motive of the suspect(s) has not been determined. There has been an overwhelming amount of support and assistance from all levels of law enforcement. We are working closely with these agencies to examine evidence, locate and review surveillance video, and follow up on all leads.

Persons of interest at this time are described as: 1) White male, middle aged, heavy/stocky build, wearing a grey shirt and grey hat. 2) Believed to be white male, 20 – 40 years of age, wearing a dark colored hat with a jacket, and light colored shirt.

There is no current indication of any terrorist connection to this crime. There have been no other items located at the Eagle Ridge Mall that have caused concern. The public is safe and the mall is open for business.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective Whitney Dukes at (863) 678-4223 extension 269 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.

UPDATE:  8:15 AM

The two improvised explosive devices are described as a type of flare, inside a pvc pipe, and then wrapped in electric tape.

UPDATE: Improvised Explosive Devices Found at Eagle Ridge Mall

On January 21, 2018, at 5:22pm the Lake Wales Fire Department responded to Eagle Ridge Mall, located at 451 Eagle Ridge Dr in Lake Wales, in reference to an alarm call. While enroute the call was changed to a structure fire. Once on scene the fire department located smoke coming from a corridor located next to the mall entrance of JCPenney.

The fire department discovered an improvised explosive device had been detonated in corridor. They also located a backpack in the same corridor with other possible improvised explosive devices in it. There were no injuries as a result of the explosion but there was damage to a drop ceiling and possibly to the corridor wall.

At 5:30pm the Lake Wales Police Department responded to begin a criminal investigation.

The mall has been evacuated. On scene assisting with the investigation is the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the State Fire Marshall, and the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad.

Based on information provided by witnesses we are looking for a person of interest who is described as a middle-aged white male, heavy/stocky build, wearing a grey shirt and a grey hat.

We will bring you more as it becomes available.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Lake Wales Police Detective Whitney Dukes at (863)678-4223 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.

PCSO is investigating a domestic violence and deputy-involved shooting in Lake Wales this evening.

Preliminary information so far is as follows:

Around 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2018, PCSO received a call from 4235 Cottage Hill Street in Lake Wales in reference to an armed disturbance and domestic violence, during which 46-year-old Shannon Jason Cables (DOB 6/13/71) was threatening his wife, 45-year-old Shannon Dawn (not a typo – she has the same first name as the suspect), and 19-year-old daughter, Alexis, with various weapons. The caller told dispatchers so far he had injured one or both of the victims with a large diaper pin, a pool cue, and Mace spray. The victims fled to a neighbor’s home before calling law enforcement.

When deputies arrived on-scene, they set up a perimeter around the house and called for the suspect to come out. Eventually the deputies determined nobody was inside the home, and they initiated a canine track to search for the suspect. At the same time, detectives arrived to investigate the domestic violence, take statements from the victims, and escort them to the hospital to be treated for their injuries.

The PCSO K-9 team tracked in the wooded area around the home for approximately two hours, but did not locate the suspect. Detectives initiated an arrest warrant for the suspect, but already had probable cause to arrest him for domestic violence should they locate him before the warrant was signed.

Two detectives escorted both victims back home from the hospital, and they arrived around 2:15 p.m. Two patrol deputies were still at the home.

While both of the victims and the four deputies/detectives were inside the home, one of the victims saw the suspect through a window, approaching the rear of the home, holding an AR-15 and a shotgun. She alerted the deputies. One of the detectives came out of a side door of the home and ordered him to drop his firearms. The suspect pointed the AR-15 in the direction of the detective who was yelling at him to drop it, at which time a gunfight ensued. Another detective and patrol deputy also engaged the suspect from the area of the back door. Once the threat from the suspect was eliminated, the deputies rendered first aid, and summoned EMS to transport the suspect to Lake Wales Regional Medical Center, where he was declared deceased.

There are four ongoing investigations: A death investigation by the PCSO Bureau of Criminal Investigations; an internal investigation by the PCSO Administrative Investigations Unit; an autopsy by the Medical Examiner; and the State Attorney’s Office, who is on-scene and will also review all of these investigations once they are completed.

Shannon Cables has been in the Polk County Jail on three prior occasions: 1995 – fleeing to elude, resisting arrest; 2000 – boating under the influence; 2011 – grand theft, dealing in stolen property.

“In one week, two different suspects have chosen to shoot at our deputies. Our message is clear – if you point a gun at or shoot at a deputy sheriff, we will shoot back, until the threat is eliminated. We are grateful this evening that this suspect did not significantly injure or kill his wife or daughter, or shoot my deputies.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff