A Missing Person
report was filed for Johnathan Otto on Thursday, February 11, 2021. Otto is 34
years of age and described as a white male, 6’02” tall and approximately 250
pounds. He is known to stay at the Talbot House in Lakeland, located at 814 N
Kentucky Avenue. Otto was last seen at the facility on February 3, 2021 wearing
a blue shirt and jeans. He does have some health issues and is not taking his
current prescribed medication.
If anyone has any
information on Johnathan’s whereabouts, please contact the Lakeland Police
Department at 866.834.6966.
LAKELAND, FL (February 14, 2021) – On Saturday, February 13, 2021, at approximately 10:23 p.m., a Lakeland Police Officer was conducting a traffic stop in the parking lot of the 7-11 at 851 South Florida Avenue when a citizen notified him that a clerk was in distress inside the store.
Upon entering the store Officer Purdy found a store clerk pointing to the counter area where he saw a male suspect, armed with a knife, holding another clerk on the ground. Officer Purdy immediately ordered the suspect to drop his weapon, and the suspect was taken into custody.
Evidence gathered showed that the suspect battered the store clerk and stole money and cigarettes during the robbery.
Detectives arrested 42-year-old Antonio Welch and transported him to the Polk County Jail. Welch is charged with Robbery with a Weapon (F1), Aggravated Battery (F2), False Imprisonment (F3), and Possession of Cocaine (F3).
On February 13, 2021, at approximately 2:13 a.m., the PCSO Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a 911 call regarding a single-vehicle crash on Galloway Road north of Hawks Ridge Drive in Lakeland. Upon arrival of first responders, 27-year-old Colby Holtz of Lakeland, the driver of the tan Ford Taurus, was deceased. The front seat passenger and only other occupant, 27-year-old Dylan Still of Lakeland, was located still sitting inside the car – he was transported to Lakeland Regional Health with a laceration to his head – he is listed in stable condition.
Preliminary investigation revealed the Taurus was traveling westbound on Galloway Road at a high rate of speed. As Holtz approached a curve on Galloway Road north of Hawks Ridge Drive, he failed to negotiate the curve and traveled off the west side of the roadway. The car traveled south, at which time the front of the car impacted a guidewire. After primary impact, the car continued south and impacted a tree and chain link fence, then traveled down an embankment, coming to final rest in the backyard of 3300 Hawks Ridge Drive.
Both occupants were wearing a seatbelt. The roadway was closed for approximately four hours during the investigation, which is ongoing. Excessive speed appears to be a factor of the crash.
Holtz’s Florida driver’s license was not valid, with numerous suspensions between 10/20/2016 and 01/11/2021 for failure to pay child support, and a suspension on 06/29/2016 for failure to pay court financial obligations.
Editors Note: The above information is provided in a press release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Our policy is to not edit those reports or omit information. With that being said his family would like you to know “he was also a Navy Veteran. He did so much good and is very loved.”
On Saturday, April 3,
2021, Polk County Sheriff’s Charities, Inc. will be holding its 13th Annual
“Bustin’ Clays with Sheriff Grady Judd” fundraising event at Tenoroc
Sporting Clays in Lakeland.
Please visit the website for more information on how to register, or sponsor.
Bustin’ Clays has become
one of the most visible and fun shooting events in Central Florida. Last year’s
event attracted over 300 shooters and over 450 people attended.
We are looking for
special sponsors to support this important event. Several sponsorship levels
are available, with some including recognition on Radio, TV and Print. We
encourage you to sign up early so that we can properly recognize you in all our
materials and advertising. Sponsors also have the opportunity to set up tables
at the event and add items such as company literature to the gift bags given
out at the event.
Polk Sheriff’s
Charities, Inc. will use 100% of all proceeds from this event to further our
mission to support activities and charities that benefit the community
associated with and identified through the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
A two-vehicle traffic crash in southeast Winter Haven on Thursday afternoon, February 11, 2021, culminated with the arrest of a middle school P.E. teacher for driving while impaired.
Arrested was 57-year-old Kathryn Lewis. Neither she, nor the other driver were injured in the crash. The crash occurred at about 5:41 PM at Eloise Loop Road and Orange Manor Drive.
According to the preliminary crash investigation, Ms. Lewis was driving west on Eloise Loop Road in a white 2012 Nissan Sentra, while the other driver was operating a gray 2016 Toyota Corolla going in the opposite direction.
Ms. Lewis began making a left turn (south) onto Orange Manor Drive, failing to yield the right-of-way to the oncoming Corolla. The Corolla struck the passenger side of Ms. Lewis’ Sentra.
An off-duty Haines City police officer was jogging in the area and was informed by the other driver that Ms. Lewis appeared disoriented and was walking away from the crash scene. The officer caught up to Ms. Lewis to make sure she was uninjured and to ensure that she remained at the scene.
The responding deputy reported that Ms. Lewis’ eyes were red and watery and that she stated, “I am in so much trouble” and “I messed up bad.”
Ms. Lewis admitted to the deputy that she had been drinking alcoholic beverages at a party prior to the crash.
Following a Standardized Field Sobriety Test, Ms. Lewis was arrested for driving while impaired. She was transported to the Polk County Jail and charged with DUI (M1) and DUI with Property Damage (M1). Ms. Lewis informed deputies that she works for Jewett Middle Academy in Winter Haven.
“We are so thankful that no one was injured in this DUI crash, but this is another sad example of a person in a position of trust making a bad decision. We expect more from people who not only work closely with children, but who are also role models to children. As such, they need to understand that they are held to a higher standard and need to behave like it.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Kathryn Lewis’ prior criminal history consists of an arrest in Daytona Beach for DUI and an arrest in St. Lucie County for DUI, Violation of Open Container, and Neglect of a Child.
“Walking For
A Heart” 5K Raising Heart Health Awareness
by James Coulter
Melanie Brown
Culpepper knows the importance of first responders. When her fiancée, Michael
Culpepper, suffered a cardiac arrest last July, she saw first-hand how first
responders strived to help revive him. Unfortunately, he passed away, but she
knew that they did their best to assist him, and she saw how much his passing
hurt them as much as it hurt her.
“They came
and tried to save him,” Melanie said. “I have seen first-hand
everything that they did, seen what they can do because they are trying to save
so many lives. They happened to know me. Once they found out they knew me, I
could see the hurt in them.”
To show her
support for local first responders, especially during these uncertain times
with the COVID-19 crisis, Brown will be hosting her first 5K fundraiser in
Winter Haven.
“Walking For
A Heart” 5K will be hosted along the scenic shores of Lake Hartridge in
Winter Haven on Sat., Feb. 27. Participants will gather and register at 7 AM,
and the race will start at 8 AM.
While participants
will not be running, they will be eligible to receive first, second, and third-place
medals. They will also be encouraged to dress as either a superhero or a first
responder, with a medal being conferred to the best dressed.
Proceeds from the
event will help local first responders, with funds to help finance installing
defibrillators throughout the city. The event will also raise awareness for
heart health. Hopefully, these endeavors will help prevent potential incidents
like those that lead to the death of her fiancée, Melanie said.
Shortly after her
fiancée’s passing last year, Melanie started Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation.
The foundation, as previously reported in the Daily Ridge, supports local first
responders by raising funds for essential supplies they require and awareness
for issues they experience.
This 5K will be
the first event of its kind for the foundation. Melanie hopes to host many more
soon. She plans on hosting a fishing tournament and a pool tournament later
this year.
Assisting her with
this 5K are her staff members from the foundation, who will also be
participating in the Hearts Unlimited Team: Jane Waters, Lora Donley, Debbie
Tennick, and Pastor Bobby Williams.
As for this event,
the biggest challenge has been COVID-19. Due to the ongoing pandemic, Melanie cannot
utilize many assets like bounce houses or food that she often provides at many
of her other fundraisers. Nevertheless, she has nothing but high expectations
for this event.
“I am doing
this…not necessarily [to] raise a lot of money on this [event], but to get
the word out there,” she said. “[Otherwise], I am looking forward to
people gathering. Whether it is a child being born with a congenital heart
disorder or a grandmother, anyone with a heart condition, or someone lost to
heart failure, [the whole point] is everyone coming together and supporting
this cause.”
Walking For A
Heart will be hosted at 7 AM on Sat., Feb. 27 at Lake Hartridge Park, located
at 1775 Havendale Blvd. NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881. For more information, visit
their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/honoringculpepper
James Daniel Townson of Babson Park passed away Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at Advent Health Orlando.
He was born November 10, 1945 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to the late Clarence and Velma Townson. James was an Electrician for Florida’s Natural for 30 years and was still actively working. He loved to fish, watch sunsets, and ride his motorcycle. He enjoyed going to the beach and was a Pastor.
James was proceeded in death by his brothers and sisters and a granddaughter, Lea Henderson. He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Susan Townson; daughters, Kim Lesley and husband Bobby of Mountain View, Arkansas, and Rachel Townson Zenteno of Orlando; son, Tony Townson of Hanceville, Alabama; along with step-children, Grace Egan of Orlando, Nicholas Strickland and Colby Medlock of Lake Wales; and sister, MaryAnn Waldrep of Addison, Alabama; and seven grandchildren.
A visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the funeral service at 12:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales. Burial will take place at New Canaan Baptist Church Cemetery in Arab, AL.
What is the Gym Like During the Covid-19 Pandemic?
By Allison Williams
With the Covid-19 pandemic affecting so many lives over the past year, many of us wonder what it would be like to get back in the gym to work on ourselves and our fitness? Is it safe? What are other people thinking about it? Anytime Fitness Winter Haven clients Bev Faniel, Kim Henderson and Lew Wagoner shared some of their personal experiences about why they choose to exercise and what safety measures they practice.
Faniel says, “If I am safe and take precautions – mask, distancing, clean – stay protected and safe, I am not fearful.” She feels that exercise and healthy eating habits are important in keeping herself healthy and she will do whatever it takes to achieve those goals.
Henderson says, “I still want to be healthy and the benefit to staying active during Covid times helps me stay out of the house.”
Wagoner’s reasons for exercising during these times relate to having Type 2 Diabetes and keeping healthy when older. “I don’t want to be stuck in a motorized chair.” Staying active is very important.
These clients choose Anytime Fitness also because of the supportive staff members. Wagoner says, “I couldn’t do it without the staff. I don’t have the drive.” Henderon adds, “The encouragement of the staff helps me achieve my goals. If it wasn’t for them, it would be hard for me. It gives me a sense of obligation.” Faniel says, “I really enjoy the staff. They are nice, lowkey, encouraging, and motivating. I really needed to get more involved in exercise and the staff members are friendly, warm and take the minute to acknowledge. There would be no other place that I’d prefer being.”
Having a close-knit supportive group is one of the key successes that Anytime Fitness has. It is a gym where the staff members get to know each client individually. For questions about the safety measures the fitness center is taking during these times, please call l 863-280-6954. They are located at 710 Cypress Gardens Blvd.
Frostproof Masonic Lodge No. 229 Donates $150 to Polk County Sheriff’s Office
By Allison Williams
Photo provided by Adrin McGough
Frostproof Masonic Lodge No. 229 donated $150 to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in order to purchase a pallet of bottled waters to raise donations for future events.
Adrin McGough is a member of the Frostproof Masonic Lodge No. 229 Free & Accepted Mason. He is the first African-American in Polk County, Florida to hold the title as Worshipful Master in a mainstream lodge. The title Worshipful means greatly respected.
“Our organization provides scholarships and awards to local students, who are looking to attend colleges as well as trade schools,” McGough said. “Our involvement is not limited to law enforcement only, we strive to assist the community as a whole. Whether it be Little League football, baseball or soccer sporting events.”
Every month the Frostproof Lodge chooses a charity to donate to in order to help them support their various causes.
“In today’s time, I feel that it is very important to support local departments, in order to build community relations among the locals,” McGough said. “There is a famous quote that President Theodore Roosevelt stated ‘People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.’ Giving back to our Community shows that we care.”
McGough shared more about the History and what it is to become a Mason.
“No one knows with certainty how or when the Masonic Fraternity was formed. A widely accepted theory among Masonic scholars is that it arose from the stonemasons’ guilds during the Middle Ages. The language and symbols used in the fraternity’s rituals come from this era. The oldest document that makes reference to Masons is the Regius Poem, printed about 1390, which was a copy of an earlier work. In 1717, four lodges in London formed the first Grand Lodge of England, and records from that point on are more complete.
Within thirty years, the fraternity had spread throughout Europe and the American Colonies. Freemasonry became very popular in colonial America. George Washington was a Mason, Benjamin Franklin served as the head of the fraternity in Pennsylvania, as did Paul Revere and Joseph Warren in Massachusetts. Other well-known Masons involved with the founding of America included John Hancock, John Sullivan, Lafayette, Baron Fredrick von Stuben, Nathanael Greene, and John Paul Jones. Another Mason, Chief Justice John Marshall, shaped the Supreme Court into its present form.
Over the centuries, Freemasonry has developed into a worldwide fraternity emphasizing personal study, self-improvement, and social betterment via individual involvement and philanthropy. During the late 1700s it was one of the organizations most responsible for spreading the ideals of the Enlightenment: the dignity of man and the liberty of the individual, the right of all persons to worship as they choose, the formation of democratic governments, and the importance of public education. Masons supported the first public schools in both Europe and America.
During the 1800s and early 1900s, Freemasonry grew dramatically. At that time, the government had provided no social “safety net”. The Masonic tradition of founding orphanages, homes for widows, and homes for the aged provided the only security many people knew.
Today in North America, the Masonic Fraternity continues this tradition by giving almost $1.5 million each day to causes that range from operating children’s hospitals, providing treatment for childhood language disorders, treating eye diseases, funding medical research, contributing to local community service, and providing care to Masons and their families at Masonic Homes. The four million Masons worldwide continue to help men and women face the problems of the 21st century by building bridges of Brotherhood and instilling in the hearts of men ideals for a better tomorrow.” -Direct quote from the Grand Lodge of Florida, Free & Accepted Masons website.
On Wednesday, February
10, 2021, PCSO detectives arrested 43-year-old James Michael Guest of
Lakeland, charging him with conspiracy to commit grand theft between
$20,000 – $100,000 (F3), scheming to defraud over $50,000 (F1), and fraudulent
use of a credit card (F3), in an organized scheme to defraud and steal tens of
thousands of dollars from his previous employer, Magnify (currently PenFed)
Credit Union.
According to his affidavit,
Guest was employed as the IT Manager at Magnify Credit Union beginning in 2013.
He was also responsible for building maintenance and vehicle repossession
processes, and was issued a credit union credit card to make business-related
purchases.
During Guest’s
employment, the credit union officials observed several discrepancies among
receipts submitted by Guest – specifically, purchases of Home Depot gift cards.
When the CEO confronted Guest with the unauthorized charges, he offered for
Guest to pay back the money, but Guest declined. Guest was then fired and a
full audit of the company credit card that was issued to him was ordered.
When the audit
revealed fraudulent expenses in excess of $7,000, the credit union contacted
the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to begin an investigation. During the
investigation, Magnify was purchased by PenFed.
During the audit, it
was determined Guest misappropriated a total amount of $88,181.69 for
gift cards and/or personal items during 2018 and 2019:
Home Depot receipts totaling $40,170.82 in various gift card
purchases.
Walmart receipts totaling $12,769.98 in various gift cards
purchases.
Guest was allowed to use his Magnify Credit
Union credit card on his personal Amazon.com account, only for bank
business. The itemized purchase list indicated total of $35,240.89
in unauthorized purchases.
The gift cards and
purchases were for Hotels.com, iTunes, Google, movies and entertainment,
restaurants such as Starbucks and Applebee’s, Uber, gas cards, Visa or
MasterCard credit cards.
“While this
credit union was helping people with their financial matters, their employee
was taking advantage of the company credit card and helping himself to almost
$90,000. Cheating and stealing is wrong on so many levels.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Guest’s criminal history includes two previous arrests in 2006 for battery domestic violence, and a 2014 arrest for battery domestic violence, all misdemeanors. He was booked into the Polk County Jail.
