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Lake Wales Suspected Shoplifter Caught After Fleeing Scene – Due To Work Uniform

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Wildy Cesar
Wildy Cesar

Lake Wales, Florida – Lake Wales Police Department responded to the Lake Wales Wal-Mart in reference to a retail theft which had just occurred on Thursday October 13. Upon contact with Wal-Mart Loss Prevention (LP), Lake Wales Police learned the suspect had entered Wal-Mart and selected an IPHONE 7 cell phone clip on case. The suspect allegedly took the phone case out of its plastic container and clipped it on his pants. The suspect then attempted to exit the store passing all points of sale. The subject was confronted by Wal-Mart LP at which point he returned the cell phone case before fleeing the scene. LP noticed the subject had on a McDonalds hat and shirt. The subject was located at McDonalds (Hwy 60 east) at which time he was identified as Wildy Cesar. Cesar admitted to the theft. Cesar was arrested for retail theft and transported to the Polk County Jail.

Resurfacing to Close West Christina Blvd. for Four Days

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Resurfacing to Close West Christina Blvd. for Four Days
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Bartow, Fla. (October 17, 2016) — Ongoing resurfacing of West Christina Boulevard between South Florida Avenue (State Road 37) and Christina Lake Drive is expected keep West Christina Boulevard closed until Thursday. Resurfacing project is part of the new RaceTrac convenience store construction at the intersection of South Florida Avenue and West Christina Boulevard.  Traffic exiting the Christina community will be detoured along Christina Parkway to County Road 540A. Traffic entering the Christina community will be detoured along South Florida Avenue to CR 540A to Christina Parkway. Motorists are encouraged drive with caution and add time to trips through area.
 
Contact Bill Skelton with the Polk County Roads & Drainage Division at 863-535-2230 for further details.
 

One Woman Killed & Another Wounded In Drive-By Shooting At Polk County Nightclub

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Lakeland, Florida – On October 15, 2016, at 2:01 a.m., the Lakeland Police Department responded Rumors Night Club, 935 East Memorial Boulevard, in reference to assisting in clearing the parking lot due to several previous fights. Uniform officers assisted in clearing the parking lot as requested and no fights were occurring during that time.

At 2:16 a.m., officers were dispatched to the Chevron Gas Station, 1615 West Memorial Boulevard, in reference to a shooting that had just occurred. A large crowd was gathered on the west side of the business. Arriving officers located the first victim, Andrea Dixon, 39years old, lying on her back in the parking lot with a gunshot wound.  Dixon was transported to Lakeland Regional Health were she was later pronounced deceased at 3:05 a.m. Her next-of-kin has been notified.

During this same time frame, the Lakeland Police Department received a call from Lakeland Regional Health advising that a second victim, Johnetha Ragins, 34 years of age, had just been dropped off at the emergency room. Ragins had a gunshot wound to her right hip and left forearm. Ragins was in the parking lot at the Chevron Station when she was shot. Several witnesses at the scene told officers that the crowd involved in the earlier fights at Rumors had now spilled over to the Chevron Station.

The shots fired in the crowd at the Chevron Station came from a vehicle driving by. The suspects have not been identified at this time. It is unknown if the two he two females shot were the intended targets. The detectives are not releasing any additional details at this time as this is an ongoing investigation. At this time, it is unknown how many times the victims were shot.

Victim #1, Deceased – Andrea Lorraine Dixon, 39 years old, Lakeland, FL.

Victim #2 – Johnetha R Ragins, 34 years old, Lakeland, FL.

One Person Killed In Early Morning Crash In Auburndale 

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Auburndale,  Florida – At approximately 5:05 a.m. Friday, October 14, 2016, officers of the Auburndale Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle/ semi-tractor trailer crash on CR 557A, in
front of Fantasy of Flight. Officers arrived on scene and located a semi-tractor trailer across the east and west bound lanes and a Chevrolet Silverado truck, facing west, under the rear portion of the semi trailer. Polk County Fire Rescue arrived on scene and attempted to provide aid the driver of the Silverado. Due to the severity of the crash, the
Silverado driver’s injuries were fatal. The driver of the semi-tractor trailer did not sufferany injuries.
Through investigation it was determined the semi driver, Joseph Cono Cammarano DOB 04-23-1948 of Luber Avenue in North Port, Florida, was previously diverted onto CR 557 A. Cammarano, who was attempting to locate the entrance to I-4, missed his turn onto SR 559 to get onto I-4, and attempted to make a U-turn on CR 557A. 

As Cammarano was making the U-turn, the Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Raymond Charles Addison DOB 06-20-1947 of  Ryan Thomas Boulevard in Auburndale was traveling west on CR 557A and struck the rear of the semi-trailer. There is no indication that either driver was impaired at the time of the crash.
Auburndale Police Traffic Homicide Investigators are continuing to investigate the crash.
Charges at this time are pending the outcome of the investigation.

PCSO Searching For Lake Wales Bus Theft Suspects From Highlands County

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Lake Wales, Florida – Sometime between 11:45 pm, and 5:15 am, October 12-13, 2016, two white males and a white female removed a school bus that was parked on a vacant lot behind the Fat Boys BBQ restaurant on Highway 630 in Lake Wales.

The Polk County School Board bus driver discovered the bus missing when she went to the lot to start her pick up route. It was learned the bus had been driven to Avon Park in Highlands County.

Polk County deputies contacted the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office for assistance and HCSO located the bus and secured it for return. The bus was later returned to Polk County.

During a search of the bus, onboard video was downloaded and images of the suspects were viewed. Detectives were able to identify all three suspects.

Working with Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, 33-year-old Jayson Kalinowski, Lake June Road, Lake Placid, and 31-year-old David Keen, Starfish Avenue, Sebring, have been arrested and are currently in the Highland’s County Jail. Keen is charged with with Grand Theft Motor Vehicle, Burglary of a Conveyance, and Petit Theft. Kalinowski is charged with Grand Theft Motor Vehicle and Burglary of a Conveyance.

The third suspect, 36-year-old Kim Loeb of Sebring, is wanted in connection to this case and faces charges of Grand Theft Motor Vehicle and Burglary of a Conveyance.

Anyone with information in Loeb’s whereabouts is 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!

Bok Academy Treated to a Performance by Master Pianist from Warner University

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Bok Music teacher Tim Cain invited the Daily Ridge to a recent visit by Master Pianist Dr. Jonathan Reed from Warner University as he volunteered his time to teach a Master Class for 15+ Bok Academy piano students.

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The 32-year-old Indiana native has been playing since age 8 when he learned his first song titled “Engine, Engine #9 and has been playing piano ever since. Dr. Reed is currently the Assistant Professor of Music at Warner University.

He shared his love of music with the students and showed them some key techniques as well as let several students try some hands-on training on the grand piano.

Dr. Jonathan Reed is a graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana where he received his B.A; attending Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina for his M.M.; as well as receiving his doctorate (D.M.A.) at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

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Burglary Suspect Takes His Own Life After Police Chase From Haines City

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Haines City, Florida – A man, suspected of burglary, fatally shot himself early Friday morning in Polk County.

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According to interim Haines City Police Chief Jay Hopgood an incident occurred just before midnight at the local 24 hours Walgreens , 35800 US-27, Haines City, FL 33844. The suspect, Adam Fennelly, allegedly broke into the locked pharmacy section of the store using a crow bar and stole several narcotic drugs. The suspect then allegedly went out the back door, got into a vehicle, and began to flee the area on Old Polk City Rd. A police chase ensued and the suspect crashed into a tree after attempts by law enforcement to conduct a traffic stop through multiple means. Before officers and deputies could take the suspect into custody the suspect allegedly took his own life with one of two guns he had in his possession. According to the medical examiners office Fennelly died from a gunshot wound to the head. 

According to Donna Wood, Polk County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer, the suspect was Adam Fennelly 31,  was from Mulberry. 

The location of the crash is 557A  & 557 according to PCSO.  This accident preceeded another fatal accident just up the  road 5 hours later. 

Five Year Old Boy Struck & Killed Riding His Bike In Lakeland

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Lakeland, Florida – Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide deputies are currently conducting a crash involving a vehicle versus a 5-year-old boy at 1110 Saddlewood Boulevard, Lakeland.  This is the Rockridge Road area of North Lakeland.  The child is deceased.

The PCSO received the call at approximately 4:44 pm. 
Preliminary information is as follows:
The 5-year-old and his 8-year-old sister were riding bikes in a neighbor’s driveway, when the 5-year-old turned and drove into the road.  At approximately the same time, a 98 Chevrolet pick-up truck, driven by 46-year-old Carol McCallister of Lakeland, was driving past the location.

The child was stuck on the passenger side of the truck and was transported to Lakeland Regional Health where he succumbed to his injuries.

The 5-year-old victim has been identified as Austin Crawford, DOB 12/5/2010

Legoland Evacuated For Bomb Threat

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All clear given at Legoland.

The Winter Haven Police Department along with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Tampa Police Bomb Squad and the State Firemarshal’s office have concluded the search of Legoland and found no explosive devices on the property.
Legoland will return to normal operatins tomorrow, Oct. 14, 2016. Guests staying at the hotel have been allowed back onto the property. Any inquiries regarding Legoland is to be directed to David Brady at [email protected]
Making a false report of an explosive device is absolutely not a joke and law enforcement will continue to investigate the origin of the threat and charge the person(s) responsible to the fullest extent.


Update 3pm: WHPD advised the media during a press conference at 3pm that they are currently working with multiple other agencies to clear the park of any bomb materials. The threat came from a note found in the park according to WHPD Deputy Chief David Brannon. The threat was reported at 11:54 am. and all guests were safely evacuated by 12:43 pm. THERE ARE NO INJURIES REPORTED TO ANY STAFF OR GUESTS AT THE PROPERTY
The agencies involved are Hillsborough County Bomb Squad, Tampa Bomb Squad, Polk County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, State Fire Marshal & FBI.

The entire park and hotel are currently being searched.

UPDATE 1:03pm – We have been advised that the park has been cleared of all guests at this time. This is still a developing story and we will bring you details as they become available.

Statement From Legoland

A bomb threat was discovered on our property. We are evacuating the Park and Hotel for the safety and security of our guests and employees, which remains our number one priority!

Editors Note: An exact time of the evacuation is not available at this time, but it appears to have just started in the last 30 minutes or after 12pm.

Winter Haven Police along wth Legoland Florida security are investigating a bomb threat at the Winter Haven theme park.