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One of Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders Arrested in Winter Haven

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One of Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders Arrested in Winter Haven

One of Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders Arrested in Winter Haven

On April 17, 2017 at approximately 7:30 p.m., Winter Haven officers responded to a citizen complaint of possible drug use in Central Park in downtown Winter Haven.

When officers arrived, they found 59 year-old Jose Mario Lopez (DOB 9-4-57, El Paso TX) along with another man. As officers began to confirm the identities of the two men, Lopez was ultimately identified as having a warrant for his arrest for a January 12, 2017 parole violation and warrant for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.  Although an initial search by a social security number came back clear, the officer continued to attempt to verify Lopez’s identity and made a confirmation through his name and date of birth. Additionally, images of tattoos that were sent by the El Paso Sheriff’s Office matched those on Lopez.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Lopez is a convicted sex offender who also has a history of convictions for burglary. In January 2017, Lopez cut off his ankle monitor that he was required to wear and left the alternative housing facility he was living at in Houston.
At this time, it is unknown why Lopez came to Polk County. The El Paso Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Texas will extradite Lopez. He was taken to the Polk County Jail and booked as a Fugitive from Justice.

“This is a perfect example of how vital it is when citizens call us to investigate suspicious activity,” said Chief Charlie Bird. “Many times, it may be nothing, but this time, a convicted sex offender is off the street and headed back to Texas!”

PCSO Deputies Arrest St. Petersburg Man For Grand Theft

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PCSO Deputies Arrest St. Petersburg Man For Grand Theft

On Monday, April 17, 2017, deputies arrested 48-year-old Jeffery Ervin of St. Petersburg for one count grand theft of a motor vehicle (F3) and one count burglary of an unoccupied conveyance (F3).

According to the affidavit, a witness reported an unknown black male driving a green and black 2003 Ford moving van at the BP Station located at 8919 Hwy 33N Polk City, who was asking people for gas money. The witness thought it was strange he was asking for gas money while supposedly working, and called the number on the side of the truck. The business owner explained to the witness this moving van was reported stolen to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and to call 9-1-1.

While deputies were patrolling the area, they spotted the stolen van turn into a Citgo gas station located at 4646 Combee Road N, Lakeland, and were able to identify Jeffery Ervin by his Florida Driver’s License, and confirmed the vehicle as being stolen.

Although Ervin was not employed by this company, Ervin claimed to deputies he was working for the business, and did not return the truck (as requested by the business owner, he said) because it was Easter and he needed gas money.

Jeffrey Ervin has 22 previous arrests, primarily in Pinellas County, including 36 prior felony charges and 4 prior misdemeanor charges such as robbery, possession of crack cocaine, battery on a LEO, resisting arrest, and battery domestic violence.  He was released from state prison in 2013 after serving 17 years for armed robbery.

Ervin was taken into custody on the aforementioned charges, booked into the Polk County Jail, and is being held on a $2,000 bond.

Guinness Feats Challenged at Chain of Records Event

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Guinness Feats Challenged at Chain of Records Event

Guinness Feats Challenged at Chain of Records Event

WINTER HAVEN – Most people would be satisfied with having broken 28 different world records – including most water ski records broken – at their first event in 2015.

But the organizers of the Chain of Records event aren’t like most people. Why else would they even think of lining 24 different barefoot water skiers behind a boat?

“We were sitting around after an event in Wisconsin talking about organizing an event to break a few records in Florida, where it is warmer,” said Geno Yauchler, the event director. “We started with the idea of breaking one record…then 10…then 20. It just kept going.”

After taking 2016 off, the 2017 event already has the eye of folks at The Guinness Book of World Records.

“They’ve already told us of 12 categories where we’ll be the record holder once we beat it,” said Yauchler, who broke the world record for the number of flips – 826 – in one hour on a Sky Ski hydrofoil. “This time around, we’re hoping to destroy more records than that.”

One record already broken is the number of participants.

“We had 175 last time,” said Yauchler. “This year, we’re already to 220. We even have to make the ramps larger to accommodate the increase in skiers. Records are going to fall.”

The event runs from April 19 to April 23 at Grassy Lake in Lake Alfred at the Lucky Lowe Ski School; Lake Eloise in Winter Haven starting at the Lake Summit Boat Ramp; Lake Hartridge in Winter Haven from the Lake Hartridge Boat Ramp; and Lake Ariana in Auburndale from the Ariana Beach Yacht Club.

To watch a video promoting the event, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIx4hXNQCJE.

For more on the event, visit www.chainofrecords.com.

PCSO Deputies Seeking Public’s Help Looking For Robert Hyers, Who Has a Polk County Warrant For Fraud

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PCSO Deputies Seeking Public’s Help Looking For Robert Hyers, Who Has a Polk County Warrant For Fraud
PCSO Deputies seeking public’s help looking for Robert Hyers, who has a Polk County warrant for fraud

PCSO deputies are seeking the public’s help to locate 53-year-old Robert Dennis Hyers (DOB 6/11/63)whose last known address was 108 Hales Road in Auburndale. He has Polk County warrants for his arrest for scheming to defraud and petit theft.

In March 2017, PCSO deputies responded to 3000 Deer Creek Commerce Lane in Davenport in response to a report of a white male that scammed the business known as Vapin Crazy Smoke Shop.

The suspect called the business and said,“It’s Mitch from Janitorial Supply [a business they are familiar with] down the street. I’m stuck in traffic and owe this guy $63 for some work he did for me. Can you give him the money and I’ll come by once I get out of traffic and settle with you?”

Soon after, a heavy-set white male wearing a camouflage baseball cap and a Gators T-shirt came inside the business claiming Mitch told him to come pick up money. An employee called the owner and asked if it was okay to give the man money. The owner gave permission to give money to the man.  As the day went on and no one ever came to repay the money, the owner of Vapin Crazy Smoke Shop contacted the owner of Janitorial Superstore, Mitchell Gregg, who advised he never sent anyone to pick up any money nor would he ever do that.

During a canvass of the area, deputies learned the Subway restaurant located at 3050 Deer Creek Commerce Lane was also confronted by a subject matching the description of the suspect in the other incident. The Subway is located in the same vicinity as the Vapin Crazy Smoke Shop and the Janitorial Superstore. In the incident at Subway, a male suspect spoke with a Subway employee by phone stating he was sending an invoice to get paid for work they had done. The employee told the man she was not giving him anything out of the register.  Shortly after the phone call, a man and a woman entered the Subway and dropped off a letter telling the employee they need more than $100.00 for work they performed. The Subway employee refused and eventually the suspects left.

Deputies collected video surveillance of the male suspect involved in this scheme. Upon review, a PCSO detective recognized the male suspect as Robert Hyers, whom the detective had previously investigated in a similar case in 2015, which resulted in Hyers’ arrest – he was sentenced to one year state prison for that arrest, and was released from state prison in May 2016.

The suspect was further positively identified by the victim as Robert Hyers.

Click here to see the video on the PCSO Youtube page

Hyers is possibly also the same suspect wanted for committing similar crimes in Pasco County. Hyers has been to state prison 10 times, for crimes in the following counties: Clay, Hillsborough, Nassau, Osceola, Polk, Pinellas, St. Johns.

If anyone has information about Hyers’ whereabouts, they are urged to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200.

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!

Pedestrian Killed In Traffic Crash In Lakeland

Staff Reporter
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Pedestrian Killed In Traffic Crash In Lakeland
Pedestrian Killed In Traffic Crash
LAKELAND, FL (April 17, 2017) – On Monday, April, 2017 at approximately 4:47 p.m., Lakeland Police officers responded to the area of Beacon Road and Lincoln Avenue, in reference to a traffic crash involving a pedestrian struck by a car.
Steven Higgins, age 57, of Lakeland, was struck and killed by a 2001 Nissan Sentra driven by 29-year-old Steven Statterfield. According to reports, Higgins was standing on the sidewalk waiting for the pedestrian light to change to cross Beacon Road when he was struck. Statterfield was traveling east on Beacon Road and for unknown reasons, lost control of the vehicle, drove up on the sidewalk and struck Higgins. The vehicle continued traveling through the intersection, striking a house on the south east corner of the intersection.
Emergency medical professionals from the Lakeland Fire Department and Polk County Fire Rescue arrived on scene and began assisting officers in providing life saving measures. Higgins was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Center as a trauma alert. Sadly, Higgins passed away due to the injuries sustained in the crash at approximately 7:42 p.m. Statterfield did not sustain any injuries.
Members of the LPD Traffic Homicide Unit closed the area surrounding the intersection of Beacon Road
and Lincoln Avenue for approximately three and a half hours.
No charges have been filed at this time. This is an open case and the Lakeland Police Department Traffic Homicide team is continuing to investigate.
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Burning Trash In Backyard Sparks Brush Fire

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Burning Trash In Backyard Sparks Brush Fire
Burning Trash In Backyard Sparks Brush Fire
Bartow, Fla. (April 17, 2017) — Two sheds were destroyed and a manufactured home in Alturas was damaged after a trash fire. Polk County Fire Rescue was dispatched to 1152 Marty Lane, Bartow, just before 3 p.m.
 
The homeowner told firefighters he forgot about the county’s burn ban and was burning garbage. The grass around where he was burning caught fire and continued to the structures.
Firefighters saved the home’s structure, but it’s no longer livable.
The Florida Forest Service was called to investigate.
Polk County remains under a burn ban. Any person who refuses to comply or violates this burn ban shall be in violation of County Ordinance 08-015, and can be punished by a fine not to exceed $500 or by imprisonment by a term not to exceed 60 days in the county jail or both.

Help Identify This Shoplifter from Bealls in Winter Haven

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Help Identify This Shoplifter from Bealls in Winter Haven

Help Identify This Shoplifter


On 4-11-17, the below pictured female entered Bealls (5998 Cypress Gardens Blvd) in Winter Haven and selected numerous baby clothing items. She then walked out with no attempt to pay.
She was seen leaving in a dark blue or dark gray four-door Toyota. In this picture it appears she is wearing a wig.

Anyone who recognizes her is asked to call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH reward.

Polk County Utilities Divison Employee Arrested for Possession of Meth

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Polk County Utilities Divison Employee Arrested for Possession of Meth

On Saturday, April 15, 2017, deputies arrested 23-year-old James Taylor, who works for the Polk County Utilities Division, for one count possession of meth (F3) and one count possession of drug paraphernalia (M1).
 
The following is from the affidavit and is self-explanatory:
 
On April 14th, 2017, I responded to the Polk County Utilities Division regarding a possible narcotic violation with an employee.  I learned that while James Taylor (suspect) was at a job site in Lakeland when he began to have seizures.  Jon Hooks (co-worker and witness) called 911 and Taylor was transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Shortly after, Kevin Goolsby (Operations and Maintenance Manager) arrived on scene and began gathering Taylor’s belongings from inside his agency issued work truck, to take to him in the hospital.  When Goolsby picked up Taylor’s cigarette box that was in the driver’s side door, he discovered plastic bag inside with white crystal residue inside the cigarette box.  Goolsby picked up the rest of Taylor’s property and was going to place it inside Taylor’s lunchbox.  When Goolsby opened the lunch box, he discovered a pipe wrapped in black tape and a clear plastic baggie with green leafy substance inside. Concerned that he discovered possible narcotics, he notified law enforcement.  

The white crystal residue inside the cigarette box field tested positive for methamphetamine.  After speaking with Goolsby, I responded to Lakeland Regional Medical Center and made contact with Taylor.  During a recorded interview, post Miranda, Taylor admitted that he has been issued the county vehicle for approximately four to five months and no other person drives that vehicle besides him.  The cigarette box (305’s menthol 100’s) that was found in the vehicle, which contained the clear plastic baggie was his.  He has a K2 and meth problem and last used the narcotics around March 8th, 2017.

Based on the above listed facts, Taylor was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.  The cigarette box and lunch box were  collected as evidence.
 
Taylor was taken into custody on the aforementioned charges, was booked into the Polk County Jail, and was released on a $1,500 bond.
 

Cooking On The Ridge: Smoked Fish Dip

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Cooking On The Ridge: Smoked Fish Dip

Cooking On The Ridge: Smoked Fish Dip

Directions

  • Prep 15 m

  • Ready In 15 m

  1. Place whitefish, mayonnaise, and sour cream in the bowl of a food processor. Season with Old Bay (Tm) seasoning, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, and cracked black pepper. Blend all ingredients until consistency reaches a spread.

Lakeland Police Are Investing a Crash with Serious Bodily Injury

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Lakeland Police Are Investing a Crash with Serious Bodily Injury

Lakeland Police Are Investing a Crash with Serious Bodily Injury 

LAKELAND, FL (April 17, 2017) – On April 14th, at approximately 6:54 p.m., the Lakeland Police Department responded to a single car accident at 4000 East Lake Parker Drive. A 2007 Nissan Altima was northbound on East Lake Parker Avenue exiting the s-curves.  The Nissan driven by Sean Nicholas Soden, 19 years old, left the roadway and drove onto the east grass shoulder.  After the Nissan left the roadway, it began to rotate in and lose control.  The Nissan re-entered the roadway and skidded approximately 80 feet in a northwest direction across both lanes of travel.  The Nissan impacted a Lakeland Electric power line pole on the passenger side rotating in a clockwise direction coming to final rest.

The Lakeland Police Department, Polk County Fire Rescue, and the Lakeland Fire Department all arrived on scene and began to provide life saving measures and securing the scene. Soden was transported to the Lakeland Regional Health Center for medical treatment, he was listed as critical condition. Soden, was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital from LRH for further treatment.  He is still listed in critical condition. Soden’s next-of-kin has been notified.
Members of the Traffic Homicide Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation. The roadway was shut down for approximately 3 hours during the investigation and was photographed and measured for follow-up investigation. Preliminary investigation reveals that excessive speed is listed as a factor in this crash.
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