INSIDE the Lakeland Police Department

Managing Emergencies

One of the many things that public safety and really all government agencies in Polk County (and Florida for that matter) do fairly well is work together during emergencies. The collaboration and cooperation during hurricanes, wildfires, floods, or other disasters is a source of pride for us.

Having said that, I participated in today's 2009 Polk County Municipal Liaison meeting hosted by the Polk County Emergency Management Division. Pete McNally and his staff from PCEMD and Jim Bell from the County's Public Safety Department gave presentations on disaster mitigation and preparation efforts currently underway.

It is always good to renew business relationships with peers across the county at these meetings. These get togethers provide us with the opportunity to once again see folks we worked closely with during the storms of 2004 and more recent events.

Government today uses an approach of all-hazards planning and preparation rather than just hurricane planning because public safety and other departments need to be ready to respond to any type of emergency. This change in our approach is the result of lessons learned from past hurricanes and the extensive ICS and NIMS training that followed the attacks of 9-11. We now have an integrated system of federal, state, county, and municipal agencies that are ready to work together regardless of the emergency through a coordinated and well defined incident management system.

It is, of course, our hope that we are never called upon to use this training, but we stand ready nonetheless.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Lakeland Police Arrest Car Jacking Suspect

<p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>On June 29, 2009, at approximately 10:00 pm, Mena took a vehicle left parked at the </strong></span><a href="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef0115709e1d22970c-pi" style="FLOAT: right"><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong><img alt="09_50" border="0" class="at-xid-6a00d8341c896d53ef0115709e1d22970c " src="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef0115709e1d22970c-800wi" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" title="09_50" /></strong></span></a><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Chevron Gas Station, 1315 South Road 98, that was left with the keys in the ignition and the engine running as the owner, Frank Scianimanico, ran into the gas station for a few minutes.&#0160; As Mena entered the vehicle, he was confronted by a friend of the victim, Rochelle Ann Clary, that had been following Scianimanico in another vehicle and had also parked at the Gas Station waiting for Scianimanico to return to his vehicle.&#0160; As Mena drove off with the vehicle, Clary was thrown to the ground.&#0160; Clary received minor injuries.</strong></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>At this time, Scianimanico and Clary began to follow Mena in Clary’s vehicle while giving the location of the stolen vehicle, via cell phone, to Lakeland Police dispatchers.&#0160; Mena stopped the vehicle in the area of 111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive and fled on foot.&#0160; Scianimanico pursued Mena on foot, and provided direction of travel via cell phone until Lakeland Police responded to the scene and placed Mena under arrest.&#0160; Mena was also arrested for violation of parole on a warrant from the State of Illinios.</strong></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Media inquiries should be directed to Sgt. Terri Smith, 863.834.6917.&#0160;&#0160; </strong></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><span class="at-xid-6a00d8341c896d53ef011571934d12970b"><a href="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/files/09_50affidavit.pdf">Download&#0160;Affidavit</a></span></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Sergeant Terri Smith</strong></span></p>

Lakeland Police Attempt to Identify Theft Suspect

<p><strong><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Lakeland Police are attempting to identify a subject captured in a surveillance <a href="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef01157072e7b5970c-pi" style="FLOAT: right"><img alt="CS09_26" border="0" class="at-xid-6a00d8341c896d53ef01157072e7b5970c " src="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef01157072e7b5970c-800wi" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" title="CS09_26" /></a> video entering the All Saint Episcopal Church, 202 South Massachusetts Avenue, on June 26, 2009.&#0160; The suspect entered the church and removed a wooden box with the words “Day by Day” on it.&#0160; </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">The suspect is&#0160; described as a black male, 5’06” tall, medium length natural hair, clean shaven.</span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">If you can identify this suspect, please contact the Lakeland Police Department, 863.834.6900, or Crime Stoppers, 800.226.TIPS (8477).</span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Sergeant Terri Smith</span></strong></p>

Lakeland Police Investigate Suicide

<p><strong><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Lakeland Police are investigating a suicide that occurred at 1640 East Fern Road in Lakeland on June 24, 2009.&#0160; At approximately 6:20 pm, officers responded to a residence at this location after receiving a 911 call from a male who stated that there was going to be a suicide at that location, and he wanted the police and emergency medical persons to be the ones to find the body and not anyone else.&#0160; </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Lakeland Police responded and made contact with two occupants of the residence and found that they had not made the call.&#0160; They directed an officer to the back of the house to the garage where the landlord lived.&#0160;&#0160; As the officer approached the back yard, they observed vehicles parked behind the house.&#0160; One vehicle was running with a cable attached inside the vehicle and the other end attached to a pole in the garage.&#0160; As the officer came closer, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and drove away from the house and crashed through a fence and into train tracks located behind the house.&#0160; As officers approached the vehicle, they found Eric C. Lucht (W/M, DOB:&#0160; 7/20/66) inside the vehicle deceased.&#0160;&#0160; Lucht’s vehicle was running with the gear shift still positioned in drive.&#0160; The heat from the engine caused a small fire to start.&#0160; LFD responded and was able to extinguish the flames.&#0160; </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Witnesses that knew Lucht stated that Lucht had a history of mental illness and had attempted suicide in the past.&#0160; Lucht had served in the military in Iraq and was honorably discharged in 2004.</span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Next of kin has been notified.&#0160; Media inquiries should be directed to Sgt. Terri Smith, 863.834.6917.&#0160; This information is also available on </span></strong><a href="http://www.lpdonlinenews.com"><strong><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">www.lpdonlinenews.com</span></strong></a><strong><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">.</span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Sergeant Terri Smith</span></strong><br />&#0160;</p>

Lakeland Police Attempt to Locate Wanted Person

<p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong><span style="FONT-SIZE: 18px; COLOR: #c00000; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Update:&#0160; 6/29/09, Suspect has Been Arrested</span></strong></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Lakeland Police are attempting to locate Fernando Soliz, age 37, who has an <a href="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef01157158dd49970b-pi" style="FLOAT: right"><img alt="CS09_25a" border="0" class="at-xid-6a00d8341c896d53ef01157158dd49970b " height="228" src="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef01157158dd49970b-800wi" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px; WIDTH: 206px; HEIGHT: 224px" title="CS09_25a" width="229" /></a> outstanding warrant for the offense of Aggravated Battery With a Deadly Weapon.&#0160;&#0160; <br />&#0160;<br />Soliz met the Lakeland victim online, traveled to Lakeland on June 14, 2009, and on June 17, 2009, battered the victim with a baseball bat causing serious injuries when the victim demanded that Soliz leave the residence.&#0160; </strong></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Soliz is described as a hispanic male, DOB:&#0160; 4/7/72,&#0160; approximately 5’10” tall, weighs 150 to 170 pounds, has a tattoo on the back of his neck “POPEYE”.&#0160; Soliz was last seen wearing tennis shoes that have red shoelaces.&#0160; Soliz has black, shoulder length, braided hair and was last known to reside in Kissimmee, Florida.</strong></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Police are asking anyone who knows the whereabouts of Soliz to contact the Lakeland Police Department at 863.834.6900, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS. Do not approach Soliz.&#0160; Soliz should be considered armed and dangerous.&#0160;&#0160; </strong></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>MEDIA CONTACT: Sgt. Terri Smith - PIO, 863.834.6917&#0160;&#0160;&#0160;</strong></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Sergeant Terri Smith</strong></span></p>

Police Find Many Red Light Citations are From Turning Right on Red

<p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Yesterday, Lakeland Police released that 1,021 red light violations had been <a href="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef01157152f42f970b-pi" style="FLOAT: right"><img alt="09_48" border="0" class="at-xid-6a00d8341c896d53ef01157152f42f970b " src="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef01157152f42f970b-800wi" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" title="09_48" /></a> approved for citations since cameras were installed at five major intersections to capture images of red light violators.&#0160;&#0160; </strong></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Police are finding that the majority of these violations (exact number is not available) are the result of drivers failing to come to a complete stop before turning right on red in intersections where right turns are permitted.&#0160; <span style="COLOR: #c00000; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Citizens are reminded that in order to be in compliance with traffic laws, a driver must come to a <em>complete stop</em> behind the stop line/bar <em>prior</em> to making a right turn on red.</span>&#0160; If a driver pulls into the intersection crossing over the stop line/bar before stopping, or simply slows down and “rolls” through the&#0160;intersection without coming to a complete stop, they are considered to be in violation of the red light.</strong></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Police are stressing the importance of obeying these laws.&#0160; It is hoped that as drivers become more focused on stopping properly at intersections as a result of the use of these cameras, there will be fewer traffic crashes.&#0160; </strong></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Media inquiries should be directed to Sgt. Terri Smith, 863.834.6917.&#0160;&#0160; </strong></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Sergeant Terri Smith</strong></span><br /></p>

Updated RLC FAQs

With all the attention being given to the Red Light Camera (RLC) violation notices arriving in the mail now that our cameras are live, I thought it might be beneficial to reissue an updated document of Frequently Asked RLC Questions (FAQs).

Perhaps the most commonly asked question we are getting today is how can someone pay their fine. Directions are found on page two of the Notice of Violation that outlines the payment options, which include:

1. Pay online at www.ViolationInfo.com and logon with your Notice # and Pin # shown in the red box on the front of the notice. There is a $4.00 convenience fee.

2. Pay by phone by calling toll free 1-866-790-4111 between 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST. There is a $4.00 convenience fee.

3. Pay by mail by sending a check or money order (payable to the City of Lakeland) using the envelope enclosed with the Notice of Violation. DO NOT MAIL CASH.

Please note that payment is not accepted at the Police Department or City Hall.

Owners can view their violation images and video online at www.ViolationInfo.com using their Notice # and Pin # found on the front of the Notice.

The Notice also outlines two ways someone can contest a violation notice they received. Follow the steps carefully to ensure to you meet the timelines established for contesting a violation.

Of course the best course of action is to come to the complete stop at a stop light. The most common violation we are seeing are rolling right turns on red with the vehicle not even coming close to a complete stop on a red signal. 

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Lakeland Police Release Red Light Citation Numbers

<p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Lakeland Police have released red light camera numbers as of June 23, 2009.&#0160; Since <a href="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef011570551b4c970c-pi" style="FLOAT: right"><img alt="09_48" border="0" class="at-xid-6a00d8341c896d53ef011570551b4c970c " src="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef011570551b4c970c-800wi" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" title="09_48" /></a> the program began, there have been a total of 1,242 citation violations reviewed.&#0160; Of this number, 1,021 have been approved to be issued citations, and 221 have been rejected.&#0160; </strong></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Media inquiries should be directed to Sgt. Terri Smith, 863.834.6917.</strong></span>&#0160;<span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>The&#0160;below link gives some additional information on the&#0160;red light citations.</strong></span>&#0160;</p> <p><a href="http://www.insidelpd.com/">http://www.insidelpd.com/</a></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Sergeant Terri Smith</strong></span></p>

Ensuring Accuracy of Red Light Camera Citations

A Letter to the Editor in The Ledger today told of an incident in which a car's owner received a citation for allegedly running a red light in another community even though the car that was ticketed reportedly had never left the garage. While I cannot speak for the facts of this referenced case, I do feel it is important for the public to understand the process used by LakelandPD to ensure accuracy in our red light camera violations.

Our officers are really the second layer of quality control as the RLC company focuses on accuracy up front. The company rejects violations at the front end of the process if the tag on the image does not match the vehicle make/model on the tag registration check. We never get to see those events. But assuming one slips through, our officers also validate the tag seen in the video and the registration check match. Here is the process they use.

Officers reviewing RLC cases first look at a before and after image of the event to validate the car's positioning at the time the traffic light turns red constitutes a violation. The officers then look at an image of the tag and compare it to the tag run by the RLC company. This is where we ensure accuracy of the citations. The tag on the video image must match the tag listed as being run for a registration check. Errors at this stage result in no violation citation being authorized.

Upon confirming the tag in the photo matches the tag being run, officers then verify the car's registration matches the vehicle caught running the red light. It is only after these steps are completed do our officers view the streaming video to watch the entire violation occur. Officers at that point then determine if a violation occurred or not.

It is important to remind folks that anyone receiving a violation citation in the mail is able to log into the Internet-based system and see their violation, including the tag on the vehicle caught running a red light.

These steps are designed to eliminate as much as possible the chance that an owner will mistakenly receive a red light camera citation. Now having said that, we certainly understand that a mistake may occur. We want to correct any errors caused by us not correctly matching the tag seen in the video image with the tag registration run by the company.

We expect the error rate, however, to be very, very small.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Lakeland Police Seek Public's Help to Identify Burglary Suspects

<p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Lakeland Police are investigating a business burglary that occurred on May 28, <a href="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef0115712fecf3970b-pi" style="FLOAT: right"><img alt="CS09_24" border="0" class="at-xid-6a00d8341c896d53ef0115712fecf3970b " src="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/.a/6a00d8341c896d53ef0115712fecf3970b-800wi" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" title="CS09_24" /></a> 2009, at Great USA Food Mart, 337 S Road 98, Lakeland, Florida.&#0160; The suspects broke the glass door, entered the business, and removed Newport brand cigarettes.<br />&#0160;<br />The images attached were captured by surveillance equipment.&#0160; There is also a picture of the vehicle used by the suspects.&#0160; </strong></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>&#0160;Police are asking anyone who may be able to identify these suspects to contact the Lakeland Police Department at 863.834.6900, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS.&#0160;</strong></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><span class="at-xid-6a00d8341c896d53ef0115703aa864970c"><a href="http://www.insidelakelandpd.com/files/cs09_24businessburg.pdf">Download Crime Stoppers Bulletin and Additional Photos&#0160; </a></span></span></p> <p><span style="COLOR: #00007f; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><strong>Sergeant Terri Smith</strong></span>&#0160;</p>