Police Need Theft Suspects Identified

On March 4, 2016 the two females in these photographs entered Kohl’s Department

Store located at 2803 Ridge Way in Lake Wales.

 

According to Loss Prevention, the two females selected cosmetic and jewelry items, took the items into the dressing room and bathroom, removed the items from the packaging,and then exited the store with the merchandise without paying for it. When the females were approached by Loss Prevention and asked to stop neither female complied. They were seen leaving in a

silver Infinity sport utility vehicle. Loss Prevention reported the property which was

taken valued $545.99.

 

If you have information on the identity of the suspects please contact Detective Alvin Maultsby at (863) 678-4223 extension 265 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.

 

On Wednesday, March 9, 2016, PCSO Special Victims Unit detectives arrested Polk County School bus driver, 51-year-old Gale Brown of Lake Wales, and Polk County School bus attendant, 57-year-old Gwendolyn Simmons of Lake Wales, and charged each with two counts Negligent Child Abuse (F-3).     According to the affidavits, a 13-year-old special needs student was left on the bus on two separate occasions, after dropping off all of the other children at Our Children’s Academy in Lake Wales.    On March 2, 2016, the victim was sleeping in the 6th seat from the rear of the bus on the driver’s side, while Simmons (the bus attendant) sat behind him. Brown drove the bus and children to Our Children’s Academy, and all of the children except the victim disembarked. Simmons walked up to the front of the bus, not noticing the victim was still in his seat, sleeping. Brown then drove and parked the bus on Mobley Street in Lake Wales, turned the bus off, and both Brown and Simmons exited the bus without checking to ensure the bus was empty. The victim woke up about 15 minutes later, climbed out of the driver’s side emergency exit window, and then hitch-hiked and walked approximately 30 miles to his home in Davenport.   On March 8, the victim was again sleeping in his seat, not noticed by either Brown or Simmons, who left on the bus on Mobley Street in Lake Wales. The victim again forced open the bus door, and hitch-hiked and walked home.   The bus is equipped with a “child reminder system” which requires the driver or attendant to push a button at the rear of the bus to turn it off – the purpose of the alarm is to ensure the driver or attendant check the bus for children prior to leaving the bus. The bus is also equipped with a digital video system that recorded both incidents.    In both incidents, both suspects admitted to having a student de-activate the child reminder system before they arrived at the school, and admitted that they did not check the bus for students before leaving it parked all day. Neither of the suspects was aware that the victim was left unsupervised on the bus. Both suspects were arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail.   “This was entirely avoidable – the Polk County School Board is committed to keeping our children safe, equipping school buses with the latest technology to ensure children are not left behind. These two suspects completely disregarded all safety measures, and endangered a 13-year-old special needs student – there is absolutely no excuse for this type of neglect.” –Sheriff Grady Judd

The PCSO Traffic Unit investigated a serious bodily injury crash in Lake Wales last evening. Preliminary information is as follows:

Around 11:25 p.m. on Monday, March 7, 2016, a Chevy Equinox belonging to 21-year-old Marley Finley of Chicago, IL, had run out of gas in the westbound lane of SR 60, just east of Evergreen Drive in Lake Wales. She and her uncle, 29-year-old David Bryan of Bramblewood Drive in Lake Wales, began to push the disabled vehicle in the westbound lane.

The flashers on the SUV were engaged, and there was a raised concrete curb that prevented them from pushing it off the roadway completely – their goal was to push it to a nearby driveway. Finley was pushing the vehicle from behind, and Bryan was at the open driver’s door, holding onto the steering wheel.

A 1998 Honda Civic being driven by 37-year-old Oliver Simons Jr. of Seward Street in Tampa was heading westbound on SR 60 at what is estimated the posted speed limit of 45 MPH. Simons did not see the SUV or Bryan until the last minute, and braked in an attempt to avoid a collision. The Civic struck the SUV on the left rear, then glanced off and struck Bryan. Finley pulled Bryan off the roadway and called for help.

Bryan was transported to LRHMC where he is in critical condition. Finley was not injured.

Simon was wearing his seatbelt, and showed no initial signs of impairment. He was cooperative with the responding deputies. During the investigation, deputies located three large bags and 8 small bags of marijuana in his vehicle, and he was subsequently arrested for Possession of Marijuana With Intent to Sell, Maintaining a Vehicle for Drug Use, and Possession of Paraphernalia.

SR 60 was reduced to one lane of travel for approximately 5 hours during the investigation.  The investigation is ongoing.

 

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**Update 10am** According to the Polk County Fire Rescue no injuries and no patients on board. –

Lake Wales Traffic Update : S. R. 60 is currently blocked in both directions in front of Babcock near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. A Polk County Ambulance has crashed into an electric pole. Live line appears to be crossing all lanes of S.R.60. Stay tuned to this post for more updates. Remember to Follow Daily Ridge for local Polk County News.

 

LAKE WALES MEDICAL CENTER HONORS ITS VOLUNTEERS

 

 

Lake Wales, FL – Lake Wales Medical Center held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 23, to honor the nearly 100 volunteers who donate thousands of hours every year helping the hospital provide top quality care to its patients and visitors.

Mike Oftedahl was named Volunteer of the Year. Oftedahl, who volunteers in the Emergency Room, has become an integral part of the ER every weekend, said ER staff members who nominated him. They noted that he’s willing to step in and help with anything at any time, is great helping with patients and their families, and is such a part of the team that he even calls in to let them know if he’s not going to be able to be there.

 

The hospital also recognized two volunteers with Dedication to Service awards: David Fehser and Lorraine Bundick. Fehser volunteers in the Senior Circle office, assisting members with signing up for trips and activities, answering phones, and helping with mailings and other office tasks. Bundick volunteers at the Hunt Lobby information desk, is eager to learn and help, and always makes sure to get visitors the help and information they need.

 

Eight volunteers received Community Cares awards for their outstanding service. They are:  Marie Stibitz, Joe McKinney, Barbara Peters, Jack Hamilton, Mattie Maloy, Jane Beai, Jessica McPhail, and Allen Fairbairn.

Special recognition was given to retiring volunteer Ellen McElhinny, who volunteered at the hospital since 1983. McElhinny amassed 8,750 volunteer hours during her years at the hospital and was a fixture at the lobby information desk. She received a special pin commemorating her total hours of service, a floral arrangement, and a gift card in recognition for her more than 32 years of dedicated service.

 

Service hour pins went to:

100 hours: Stefanis Albaladejo, Lori Beisner, Clarice Evans, Jack Hamilton, Margie Legg, Deborah Mathewson, Viola Nolan, Chadasha Pamee, Margery Trask, Alice VanAsdale, and Gayl VanAsdale

 

 

500 hours: Lorraine Bundick, Tamese Christian, Allen Fairbairn, Ogarth Hutton, Jessica McPhail, Michael Oftedahl, Lois Sessions, and Daisy Thomas

 

 

1000 hours: Mary Luhr, Betty VanDellen, Barbara Waldrop, and Carol Whitaker

 

 

1500 hours: Jane Beai, Mary Hudnell, Barbara Marksbury, Mary Beth McGill and Rosemary Quinlan

 

 

2000 hours: Susan Fehser and Merrillyn Seib

 

 

2500 hours: Barbara Hitchcock and Peggy Sabatino

 

 

3000 hours: Edwin Friedlander, Maryanne Siders and Gloria Wurth

 

 

7500 hours: David Fehser

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Come join the Lake Wales Police Department at Bob Evans this weekend to help us raise money for Special Olympics Florida athletes. This Law Enforcement Torch Run, TIP A COP event is this Saturday and Sunday, March 5th and 6th at Bob Evans Restaurant, 23269 US 27 in Lake Wales. Come meet some of our local athletes as they greet you and your local officers as they serve you. Please bring a copy of the attached flyer with you or show a copy of it on your phone from our Facebook page at:

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