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Lake Wales Man Dies After Boat Capsized in Lake Annie in Dundee

 

Revised:

Just before 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2017, PCSO Deputies responded to a capsized boat on Lake Annie at the boat ramp located at 2955 Campbell Rd, Dundee.  Upon arrival the Dundee Fire Department was actively trying to pull the victim, Tommy Tucker from the lake.  Tucker was eventually removed from the lake and transported to Winter Haven Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, April 30, 2017.

Investigation revealed Tucker, his wife Karen Tucker, son in-law Eddie First, and daughter Jeanette Horne-First had been fishing on Lake Annie since approximately 1600 hours.  The group returned to the boat ramp at approximately 1945 hours to load the boat (1985 17-foot Wellcraft).  Tucker let the son in-law and daughter off the boat to get the truck and trailer while he and his wife waited.  While Tucker was attempting to load the boat on the trailer the boat took on water and started to sink.  Tucker gave his wife a life vest and she exited the boat.  The boat then capsized throwing Tucker in the water.  Tucker attempted to swim to shore but the current carried him into the weeds west of the ramp.  Eddie First attempted to swim out and help Tucker but could not reach him before Tucker disappeared under the water.   First then contacted 911 to request help.

The autopsy is complete; cause of death – drowning

Water-Skiers Hold Record-Breaking Challenge on Chain of Lakes

Last week was a big week for record-breaking in Winter Haven. The event was held April 19-23 with over 300 participants gathered at the Chain of Lakes to attempt the breaking or setting of water-skiing world records for the National Show Ski Association, the United States Hydrofoil Association and Guinness World Records.

This was their second run at the record books.

During their first attempt in 2015, skiers from as far away as Australia and Germany took to the Chain of Lakes to set 26 records in the sport.

After taking the year off in 2016, participants from all over the world gathered again last week to attempt to break over 40 records, 11 of which will qualify for inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records.

During my visit on Saturday, skiers were gathered on the shores of Lake Ariana at the Ariana Beach Yacht Club to attempt the Ballet Record for Most Ballet Water-Skiers Pulled by One Boat.

Fifty ladies lined up side-by-side along the pier behind the Ariana Beach Yacht Club as assistants helped line the pull ropes up that were attached to a speedboat with three Mercury 300xs engines.

The boat pulled forward until the lines were stretched out and then with a roar of the engines, fifty water-skiers sailed off the pier onto the water about five feet below. Only two skiers fell during the attempt.

When the skiers returned to the pier, there was excitement as they learned they had broken the record with 48 skiers. The previous record was 40.

 

“Were looking forward to getting all the records certified although it will take many months for that to happen.  We won’t have all of the certifications done until December but that’s the way the system works” says Team Captain Eric Gran.

Event organizer Geno Yauchler was on the water breaking records as well.

“One of the records I was personally the only one in the record for was the most inverts or rolls on a hydrofoil” ….”I did 30 rolls in one minute”.
The event was a success with 36 total records broken (pending certification) that included 23 National Show Ski Association records, 7 United States Hydrofoil Association records and 6 Guinness World Records.

Here is a list of the attempts that were included in the event:

Jump Records

Regulation Jump |

  1. Most 2 ski Flips off a water ski ramp
  2. Most 1 ski Flips off a water ski ramp
  3. Most 1 Ski Gainers in 1 min
  4. Most 1 Ski Flips in 1 min
  5. Most 2 ski front flips in 1 min
  6. Most 2 ski Gainers in 1 min

Unlimited 50’ Jump |

  1. Most 2 ski helicopter spins off a water ski ramp
  2. Most 2 ski front flips off of a water ski ramp
  3. Most 2 ski gainers off a water ski ramp
  4. Most water skiers off a jump
  5. Most 1 ski front flips off a water ski ramp
  6. Most 1 ski gainers off a water ski ramp
  7. Most 1 ski helicopter spins off a water ski ramp
  8. Largest Water Ski Ramp built

Ballet Record

  1. Most ballet water-skiers pulled by one boat.

Barefoot Records

  1. Most barefoot water-skiers towed behind a single boat (weight limit 175 lbs per footer)
  2. Most barefooters doing a front deep behind one boat
  3. Most 2 ski Jump out starts
  4. Most back step off barefoot waterskiers
  5. Most barefoot water ski tumble turns one min.
  6. Most barefoot water ski tumble turns in 30 seconds
  7. Most back deeps

Shoe Ski

  1. Most shoe skiers behind one boat completing a 360 hand turn

Strap Doubles and Trios Records

  1. Largest number of strap doubles couples
  2. Largest number of trios sets
  3. Most torch flips in a strap doubles line

Hydrofoil Records

  1. Tallest sit down hydrofoil
  2. Most combo flips in a row on a sit down hydrofoil
  3. Most hydrofoil mobes in a row on a sit down hydrofoil
  4. Most hydrofoil inverts @ 1 time behind 1 boat
  5. Most hydrofoil riders towed behind a boat
  6. Most hydrofoil rolls in 1 minute
  7. Most hydrofoil front flips in 1 minute
  8. Most hydrofoil front flips @ 1 time behind 1 boat
  9. Most hydrofoil mobes @ 1 time behind 1 boat

Swivel Records

  1. Most girls in a swivel line (must do two different skills).
  2. Most girls behind one boat to do a 360 at the same time.
  3. Most girls behind one boat to do a 720 at the same time.
  4. Most girls behind one boat to do a 1080 at the same time.
  5. Most 720s in a minute.

Adaptive Skiing Record

  1. Most adaptive water-skiers pulled at one time

Wakeboard

  1. Most Wakeboard inverts in 1 minute
  2. Wakeboarding behind the longest rope

Event

  1. Most water ski world records at one event

Sheriff Judd Recognizes Outstanding PCSO Members at Annual Awards Ceremony

Sheriff Judd Recognizes Outstanding PCSO Members at 
Annual Awards Ceremony
 

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and Executive Staff members of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office will recognize law enforcement, detention, civilian, and volunteer members of the agency on Thursday, May 18, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. at Lake Eva Banquet Hall in Haines City, at the “2017 PCSO Annual Awards Ceremony.”  On hand to help recognize these members will be county elected officials and administrators, and other special dignitaries.

Each year, PCSO holds an awards ceremony naming the Deputy Sheriff, Detention Deputy, Civilian, Reserve Deputy Sheriff, and Volunteer of the Year. In addition to these awards, Sheriff Judd will award Medals of Honor, Purple Heart Medals, Medals of Valor, Life-Saving Medals, and Meritorious Service Medals to those members who went above and beyond the call of duty during 2016.


The media is invited to attend this event. Some award recipients and nominees may be undercover – the Public Information Officers will be on-hand to assist you in identifying those members who cannot be photographed or videotaped.

Combative Man Bites Polk County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief

Combative Man Bites Polk County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief
Bartow, Fla. (April 28, 2017) — A Polk County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief underwent emergency surgery Tuesday night after he was bit in the arm by a suspect involved in a motor vehicle crash near Winter Haven.
Battalion Chief Kevin Shireman, who remains hospitalized but in stable condition, was dispatched about 8:40 p.m. to a motor vehicle crash on Thornhill Road near Moonlite Pass in Winter Haven.
While Shireman assisted a Polk County Sheriff’s deputy, the suspect involved in the crash bit Shireman twice. The second bite cause a serious arm injury to Shireman’s left arm, which required emergency surgery. He also received a serous leg injury, which will also need surgery.
“Kevin Shireman is an amazing man. He rose to the occasion to assist the deputy carry out his duties,” said Deputy County Manager for Public Safety, Joe Halman Jr. “We wish him a speedy recovery.”
Shireman has issued the following statement:
“The support and encouragement I’ve received throughout this process has been overwhelming and I’m grateful. As you know, I have a very serious arm and leg injury. I don’t know how long my recovery will take, but I have amazing doctors, nurses and other professionals taking care of me. As soon as I recover, I plan to be back on the job serving Polk County. But before I can get back to work, my wife and doctors tell me I need to focus on my recovery. My family and I appreciate your prayers.”
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is carrying out an investigation into the matter. Questions about the incident should be directed to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Former Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer Arrested for 5 Counts DUI After Hitting 5 Children Walking Home for the Bus Stop

 

UPDATE:

13-year-old Juan Mena has been released from the hospital. We are grateful that he will recover from the serious injuries he received in a crash Thursday night, when he and his friends were struck by DUI suspect John Camfield.

All of the families affected during this horrific event remain in our prayers.

Update on Charges:

Here is a list of his 11 current charges (some charges were upgraded at first appearance, in reference to the death he caused):

4 counts DUI and property damage (M-1)

1 count DUI (M-1)

1 count DUI with serious bodily injury (F-3)

1 count DUI manslaughter (F-3)

1 count reckless driving with serious bodily injury (F-3)

1 count leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury (F-3)

1 count vehicular homicide (F-2)

1 count leaving the scene of a crash involving death (F-1)

Today at first appearance, his total bond amount was set at $600,000. If he bonds out, he has restrictions – a curfew, and he cannot use drugs or alcohol.

UPDATE:

We are saddened to report that as of 9:30 a.m. this morning (April 28, 2017), 13-year-old Jahiem Robertson has succumbed to his injuries received in last evening’s crash, where he was struck by DUI suspect John Camfield. He has been pronounced deceased.

His family, his school, and his community, remain in our prayers.

 

Former Mississippi law enforcement officer arrested for 5 counts DUI after hitting 5 children walking home from bus stop
On Thursday, April 27, 2017, PCSO deputies arrested 48-year-old John Camfield of Davenport, a former Mississippi law enforcement officer, for:
  • 2 counts DUI with Serious Bodily Injury
  • 3 counts DUI with Injury/Property Damage
  • 2 counts Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Serious Bodily Injury
  • 2 counts Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Injury
  • 1 count Reckless Driving
PCSO confirmed Camfield was a law enforcement agency at the following Mississippi agencies, and possibly more: Yolobusha County Sheriff’s Office, Tunica County Sheriff’s Office, Oxford Police Department, Hernando Police Department.
 
An excerpt from the affidavit is below, and is self-explanatory:

On 04-27-17 at approximately 1659 hours suspect, John Camfield, was operating his vehicle (2008 Kia Rio 4-door) within the area of Poinciana, Polk County, Florida. Camfield was northbound on Allegheney Road approaching the intersection of Athabasca Dr.
 
For unknown reasons the suspect’s vehicle left the roadway.  A witness was traveling northbound behind the suspect vehicle and observed Camfield lean forward in the vehicle and then leave the roadway onto the east shoulder. The witness advised she saw the vehicle strike multiple juvenile victims. 
   
During the time the suspect left the roadway there was a group of kids walking on the east shoulder of the roadway. The group had just got off the school bus (for Dundee Ridge Middle Academy) and were walking home. The suspect struck one of the juvenile victims, 15 year old Jonte Robinson (male), with a glancing blow and struck him with the passenger side of the vehicle to his left arm and left leg. Jonte was complaining of pain to his wrist and ankle. 
 
The suspect continued in a northerly direction on the shoulder of the road striking another juvenile victim, 14 year old Jasmine Robertson (female), with a glancing blow. Jasmine complained of back pain. 
 
Victim, 12 year old Rylan Pryce (male), was also struck by the car with a glancing blow and complained of pain to is left arm.
 
The suspect continued off the roadway in a northerly direction and struck two other juvenile victims, 13 year old Jahiem Robertson (Jasmine’s brother) and 13 year old Juan Mena (male). Both Robertson and Mena sustained serious, life-threatening injuries to included spinal injuries, facial fractures, and head trauma. 
 
Jahiem and Juan were both airlifted to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando. 

Roadway evidence showed no signs of pre-impact braking and a post-crash debris field supported the fact the juvenile victims were off the roadway on the shoulder at the time of impact. 

Witnesses stated after impact with the juvenile victims, the suspect traveled back onto the roadway, slowed and then accelerated rapidly in a northerly direction without stopping or rendering aide.  
 
One witness followed the suspect until he turned right on Bayberry Rd and left on Poinciana Parkway until she observed the vehicle apparently stopped. While continuing to travel on Poinciana Parkway the suspect failed to property avoid the vehicle in front of him, which cause the front of the Kia to impact the rear of a Nissan Murano. This impact disabled the KIA and prevented him from traveling further. 
 
At approximately 1800 hours Traffic Deputy Brackley made contact with the suspect at the second crash scene (he had been detained by off-duty Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Quintana – see below). During his contact with the suspect Brackley observed maximum clues of impairment during consensual field sobriety tasks. Brackley also noted faint odor of alcohol emitting from the suspect and observed poor coordination/balance. Post-crash investigation revealed that the suspect traveled approximately 4000 feet from the area of the hit and run to the second crash site. 

During this entire series of events the suspect made no attempt to render aid or report the crashes. 

The  investigation determined that the suspect’s actions were reckless, during the impact with the numerous juvenile victims on the side of the road, and were without regard of life or property.

During this crash the suspect was unlawfully impaired and his faculties were impaired to the extent he could not safely operate a motor vehicle. Post-crash a search warrant was obtained for the suspect’s blood and those results are pending toxicology results.

At 2347 hours a breath test of the suspect was conducted at the Polk County Jail. The results were a .0147 BAC. 

Off-duty PCSO Deputy Sheriff Jonathan “JJ” Quintana, who lives in the area, was on the phone with his 11-year-old daughter, who had called him to come pick her up from the bus stop (she rides the same bus) when she saw Camfield crash into the 5 children. His daughter began screaming into the phone, and Deputy Quintana ran out of his house, barefoot, to the scene. 
When the deputy arrived and saw the injured children, he ran back to get his patrol car with his first aid kit inside. He drove back to the scene to tend to the victims, and saw two nurses treating the injured – they yelled out to him in which direction the suspect vehicle fled. Deputy Quintana immediately left to locate the suspect, and caught up to the suspect vehicle on Poinciana Parkway, after it had crashed into a stopped car. Deputy Quintana grabbed his agency-issued rifle from within his vehicle and his handcuffs and detained the suspect, while calling for backup. PCSO deputies were already en-route, having been called by witnesses.
Deputy Quintana is 30 years old and has been a deputy sheriff since 2013. He works the night shift in the Northeast District (Davenport). Had he been scheduled to work on the evening of April 27th, he would not have been home when the crash occurred.
Jahiem Robertson was very critically injured and is not expected to survive. Juan Mena is in the ICU with orbital fractures. If Jahiem does not survive, one of Camfield’s charges will be upgraded.

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What Not To Do When A Self-Checkout Register Goes Rogue

What Not To Do When A Self-Checkout Register Goes Rogue

On April 22, 2017 at approximately 12:34 a.m., a group of eight (two are young children and one teenager), who appear to be family or close friends, entered Walmart at 7450 Cypress Gardens Blvd. One of the males (bald with large tattoo on his right shoulder and down the arm) scanned and paid cash for two items.


He then retrieved the change from the machine. Video shows him walking away and then returning while one of the other males is ringing up a single item.

They appear to compare the bills and obviously see that the change given back was incorrect.

What should have come out as a $5 bill as change was actually a $20 bill. Finding this obvious windfall, honest people would immediately alert the sales associate to the error – but not this group. They all start lining up to pay for one small item each in order to receive change that should include $5 – knowing they would instead receive a $20 bill. This continued on for, not five minutes or even ten minutes, but more than 20 minutes. Each one would line up and pay for a small item and cash out.

Ultimately, the store found the error and an audit concluded that $20 bills were put in the slot where the $5 bills should go. Video was reviewed and shows the group conducting the transactions. All totaled, the group retrieved $1,100 in error.

The two young children with the group are both boys, one appears to be about 10 – 12 years of age and another smaller boy about 5 years of age. The girl appears to be 13 – 15.

Footage from the parking lot shows that the group came in two separate vehicles, one newer model black four-door car and the other a silver or gray four-door car.

Anyone with information on the identities of any of those pictured 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 MUGSHOT OF THE DAY – APRIL 27, 2017

CODY POOLE

Race: W Sex: M DOB: 6/8/1994 Height: 511 Weight: 135

Charge Number 1

Statute: 812.014(2)(D). Grand Theft from Dwelling >$100
Charge on Arrest Docket: G/THEFT DWELL/PROP 100-300 DIF
Bond Type: CS
Bond Number: Purge Number:
Purge/Bond Amount: Surety: 1000.00
Cash: Bond Exp.: Disposition:
Upgrade/Reduction:

Charge Number 2

Statute: 893.13(6A)………. Possession of HEROIN
Charge on Arrest Docket: Possession of HEROIN
Bond Type:
Bond Number: Purge Number:
Purge/Bond Amount: Surety:
Cash: Bond Exp.: Disposition:
Upgrade/Reduction:

Charge Number 3

Statute: 893.147 (1)* POSS OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – PRODUCTION
Charge on Arrest Docket: POSS OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
Bond Type:
Bond Number: Purge Number:
Purge/Bond Amount: Surety:
Cash: Bond Exp.: Disposition:
Upgrade/Reduction:

Charge Number 4

Statute: 893.147 (1)* POSS OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – PRODUCTION
Charge on Arrest Docket: POSS OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
Bond Type:
Bond Number: Purge Number:
Purge/Bond Amount: Surety:
Cash: Bond Exp.: Disposition:
Upgrade/Reduction:

Charge Number 5

Statute: 893.13(6A)………. Possession of HEROIN
Charge on Arrest Docket: Possession of HEROIN
Bond Type:
Bond Number: Purge Number:
Purge/Bond Amount: Surety:
Cash: Bond Exp.: Disposition:
Upgrade/Reduction:

The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the authors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies of PolkMugShot.com or any employee thereof.

Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club

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Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club

We are a membership of neighbors and community leaders, linking diverse perspectives and building relationships to take action in our communities at home and around the globe.

In 2016-17, our Rotary International Foundation turned 100.  That’s a century of Rotary members changing lives and improving communities all over the world.  That’s definitely something worth celebrating!  This summer our Rotary International Convention will be in Atlanta, Georgia.  Many local Rotarians will be going to the RI Convention to experience over 20,000 Rotarians worldwide coming together for training, leadership, and fun!

Through our Rotary International Foundation, Rotary members all over the world have supported thousands of projects to provide clean water, fight disease, promote peace, provide basic education, and grow local economies. We’ve also been a leader in the fight to eradicate polio worldwide.

The collective leadership and expertise of our 1.2 million members helps us tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges, locally and globally. We are united by common values and vision for the future as we sharpen our focus with targeted specific causes that will reach communities most in need.

The mission of the Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club is “to be a service club that focuses on caring for the youth of our community while participating in Rotary’s global efforts”.

We are continuing to serve over 120 deserving boys and girls in our local elementary schools by sponsoring our Boys’ Camp at Circle F Youth Ranch and Girls’ Camp at Lake Aurora Christian Camp each year.  These camps provide a weekend of special activities such as horseback riding, kayak paddling , archery, and making s’mores around the campfire. Mentoring by counselors and Rotarians and making memories with new friends is an added bonus for students who are selected by their school.  We fundraise all year to provide this camping experience for children who may not get the opportunity to go camping.

We also co-sponsor an Interact Club at Lake Wales High School and a Rotaract Club at Webber International University with The Rotary Club of Lake Wales.  Providing scholarships to Lake Wales High School seniors, sponsoring a student for leadership training, sponsoring a literacy project for community elementary schools, and providing community grants are some of the other local projects we sponsor.

Our club’s work in Honduras keeps growing!  Honduras trips in the fall and spring, involving Rotarians from other clubs in our district and Southeastern University Enactus students, provide safety, clean water, education needs, and lifetime relationships with the neediest of the needy.

As Arch Klumph, founder of The Rotary Foundation, passionately reminds us, “We should not live for ourselves alone, but for the joy in doing good for others.”

Discover who we are, what we do, and how we take on some of the world’s most challenging problems.  We’d love the opportunity to share our Rotary passion with you!

 

The Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club meets

each Thursday from 7:00-8:00 A.M. at

Bok Tower Garden’s Blue Palmetto Café,

1151 Tower Blvd.,

Lake Wales, Florida.

Haines City Cardboard Boat Challenge TEAMS REGISTER NOW!

Haines City Cardboard Boat Challenge

TEAMS REGISTER NOW!

POLK COUNTY, FLHaines City Cardboard Boat Challenge on May 6, 2017 at Lake Eva Boat Ramp


Haines City Public Works Department in partnership with LE/AD (Lakes Education/Action Drive) is holding a community event like no other! Families, corporate groups, Boy & Girl Scout Troops and many others can join together to take on the Cardboard Boat challenge! This event helps raise awareness about Haines City lakes and important water resources and how we all must play a role in protecting them.  People can reduce their impact on the environment through the lifestyle choices they make every day.  Celebrate our lakes and join the fun!

 

THE CHALLENGE:

To build a boat out of cardboard and duct tape, and then put 2 people inside to race around a course, be the first to make it across the finish line without sinking.

 

Haines City Cardboard Boat Challenge

  • On-Site Built Registration 8 A.M. – 8:30 A.M.
  • Cardboard Boat Building On-site 8:30 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.
  • Pre-Built Registration 9:00 A.M. – 9:30 A.M.
  • Race Starts at 10:00 am

 

To reinforce the reason behind this event the theme of the cardboard boats are a “Lakes” awareness theme. Each team must name their boat with a Lakes awareness theme, and turn in a short bio explaining the name choice to be announced prior to launch.  The teams create a boat out of cardboard and duct tape, and race a course on Lake Eva! Environmental Exhibitors at the Seven Rivers Festival will provide children’s activities, information on ways to protect our lakes, water ways and other environmental fun facts.

Teams can Register online at www.lakeseducation.org

 

  • Haines City Public Works (863) 421-3777

Registration for teams is online at www.lakeseducation.org.

Two Locals Arrested During an Early Morning Search Warrant

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Two Locals Arrested During an Early Morning Search Warrant   

On Thursday April 27, 2017, members of the Lake Wales Police Department executed a search warrant at 27 W Crystal Avenue apartment 105.

Members of the Lake Wales Police Department received information from the public that a subject identified as Antwon Deon Francis was living at this apartment and was selling illegal narcotics from there. Members of the department’s Crime Suppression Unit began investigating Francis which resulted in a search warrant being obtained for the residence.

On Thursday morning the search warrant was executed at which time Francis and his live in girlfriend, Brittani Thomas, were located inside the apartment along with Thomas’ four year old child. Upon searching the residence detectives located a small amount of marijuana along with $982 in US currency. Neither Francis nor Thomas is gainfully employed.

Both Thomas and Francis admitted to smoking marijuana inside the apartment while the child was present. When questioned, Francis denied selling anything illegal. However in March 2017 Thomas contacted police after she and Francis had an altercation. During that investigation Thomas told officers that Francis was selling narcotics after which officers found illegal narcotics. As both clearly had knowledge harmful illegal narcotics were being used and kept inside the apartment within reach of Thomas’ child, both are being charged with child abuse, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Francis has an extensive arrest history including multiple drug offenses, resisting arrest, battery, trespassing, and aggravated assault. Thomas’ arrest history includes criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and a criminal traffic offense.

The Lake Wales Police Department would like to thank the public for their help in this investigation. Without the partnership between the citizens of this city and our officers cases like this could go unnoticed.

If you have information regarding this case or other illegal activity, please contact the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).