INSIDE the Lakeland Police Department

Lakeland Police Attempt to Identify Personal Robbery Suspects

Lakeland Police are attempting to identify suspects of two personal robberies that occurred in Lakeland, Florida.

On October 3, 2011, at approximately 1:00 pm two subjects attacked the victim at 525 N Morgan Avenue and attempted to rob him.   

On October 27, 2011, at approximately 6:30 am two suspects punched, kicked, and stabbed the victim 500 N Ingraham Avenue and took his wallet and cell phone.

In both cases the suspects were described as two young males in their late 20’s, one with light skin and a pony tail and the other dark skinned with a low afro.  The suspects may be frequent the Parker Street/Mabel Avenue area of Lakeland.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to contact Crime Stoppers, 1.800.226.8477.  This information is also available at www.insidelpd.com.

Download Crime Stoppers Bulletin 

- posted by Sergeant Terri Smith

 

Lakeland Police Officer Involved Traffic Crash

Lakeland Police Officer Christopher Cintron was involved in a traffic crash that occurred at approximately 9:57p.m. on October 27, 2011.  Officer Cintron was responding in non-emergency mode as backup to a traffic stop.  Preliminary investigation indicates that Officer Cintron was driving a fully marked police vehicle, traveling eastbound on W. Memorial Boulevard when a gold Nissan Maxima, driven by 55 year old Juan Pizarro of Lakeland, attempted to make a U-turn in front of him.  Officer Cintron attempted to take evasive actions, but was unable to avoid the collision.  Both parties were transported to LRMC with non‐life threatening injuries.  Officer Cintron has been released from LRMC.  Both drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision.

No citations have been issued at this time. This incident remains open pending follow-up investigation.

 

-posted by Ann Dinges

Lakeland Police Thank Michele Pugliese

On October 27, 2011, the Lakeland Police Department honored Michele “Mick” Pugliese for his generosity and compassion towards the members of the department.  When there is a financial need within the Lakeland Police Department, Mick has turned the restaurant over to our department to help raise money for those in need.  Il Forno’s has held numerous spaghetti dinners for officers and civilians in need of financial assistance.  He and his staff have helped ease the burdens of an officer who is sick and unable to work, or of a family member in need of an expensive operation, or when a house unexpectedly goes up in flames and people are left with nothing.

The most recent fundraiser was held for an Emergency Communication Specialist whose son is in need of an expensive surgery that only takes place in Boston.  With the help of Mick and others we raised over $3,000 for the family.

A special Thank You goes out to Mick and the employees at Il Forno Restaurant for their continued support of the Lakeland Police Department.

- posted by Ann Dinges, PIO

Lakeland Police Respond to Mall After Man Calls in Threats

Lakeland Police responded to Lakeland Square Mall, 3800 N Rd 98, Lakeland, Florida, at approximately 6:00 pm on October 25, 2011, after a man called in and threatened to “kill” someone in the mall.  Officers closed down the mall and rerouted traffic while Sergeant Eric Watson made contact with the man via cell phone and negotiated his surrender.  The man was stated he was despondent over a domestic matter.  The man was taken to LRMC for mental evaluation.  No weapon was found during the initial search of the man and his vehicle.   

- posted by Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Arrest Man for Lewd/Lascivious Battery on Child

Lakeland Police have arrested a man as a result of an investigation that involved internet chatting with a child.  The victim, a 14 year old girl, began chatting with arrestee, Rafael Sanchez (DOB:  8/14/77, 2816 Tangelo East Street, Auburndale, Florida) in June of this year.  The mother of the victim became aware of the interaction with Sanchez and reported it to the Lakeland Police Department.  Officers assumed an online presence of a 14 year old girl and continued the conversations.  Sanchez solicited the 14 year old victim to send nude pictures of her and had explicit conversations with the child about having sexual intercourse.  Sanchez also directed the 14 year old victim to visit a porn site to learn more about performing sex acts.

On October 24, 2011, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, a search warrant was served at Sanchez’s residence.  Sanchez was interviewed and admitted to knowing the age of the victim and to having the explicit conversations.  Sanchez was arrested and charged with Lewd/Lascivious Battery (F2), Prohibited use of Computer (F3), Transmission of Obscene Material Harmful to Minors (F3), and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device (F3).  Several electronic devices were also seized from the residence and will be processed.

- posted by Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Show Future Student Drivers the Consequences of Unsafe Driving During Red Ribbon Week

Lakeland Police are bringing the message to students about the possible consequences of unsafe driving as part of their Red Ribbon Week Campaign.  Red Ribbon Week is focused primarily on “Just Say No” to drug and alcohol use, but Lakeland Police are taking the opportunity to also send a message to students about the dangers of texting and driving.  On display at Lakeland Highlands Middle School, 740 Lake Miriam Drive, Lakeland, Florida, are two cars that have been totaled.  One car was wrecked when being driven by a drunk driver.  The other car was wrecked while being driven by a person texting on their cell phone.  The question posed to students:  “Which car is which?”  Police are hoping this example will drive home the dangers of driving under the influence as well as texting while driving. 

Officer Oscar Wesley, a School Resource Officer at Lakeland Highland Middle School, says that he has seen the impact first hand that this visual example has on students.  “Most of them are shocked.  They tell me after seeing this they are never going to text or drink and drive.  This is what we were hoping for – to send home the message to students that the dangers are real. The behavior can be life threatening and needs to be taken seriously.”

The cars are on display at Lakeland Highlands Middle School and will be there until Monday, October 31, 2011.  If you want to know the answer – which is which – you will need to visit the display. For more information on Red Ribbon Week  click on the following link: http://www.justice.gov/dea/ongoing/redribbon_factsheet.html

- posted by Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Museum Continues to Grow

The Lakeland Police Department has continued to collect old relics and equipment used in the early days of policing and has added many new items to the museum.  This historic display is located on the second floor in the community room of the police station located at 219 North Massachusetts Avenue, Lakeland, FL.  Identification cards of retired officers along with a few new vintage pictures have been added to the museum including an article featuring the Lakeland Police Department as the best dressed department in the nation in 1981.   

There is also a framed presentation on the “Drunk-O-Meter” machine that was the first of its kind requiring suspected drunk drivers to blow into a balloon that was then placed onto a tube on the machine where alcohol content could be determined scientifically.   Prior to the use of this device, police officers would take the suspected drunk driver to a nearby doctor who would determine the suspect’s level of intoxication by a variety of observations.  The Drunk-O-Meter was replaced by the “Breathalyzer” in the late 1960’s.

The historic display items will be updated and rotated every few months to keep the museum fresh.  The Lakeland Police Museum would also like to request donations from the public of any old items they may wish to donate.  Old photographs, police equipment, newspaper articles, and other items would be appreciated and will help to preserve history.  Please contact Sergeant Gary Gross, Lakeland Museum Curator, at 863.834.6900 if you would like to donate items.

- posted by Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Investigate Homicide

UPDATE October 24, 2011:  The victim of the homicide has been identified as Desmond Johnson, DOB:  2/19/77.

Lakeland Police responded to 1036 Marion Avenue on October 22, 2011, during the night after receiving a report of a body lying inside a residence at this location.  Police arrived on the scene and found and adult black male lying in the residence deceased.  The victim had been shot.  Police are attempting to verify the identity of the victim and do not have a suspect in custody at this time.  Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to contact the Lakeland Police Department. 

This case is still under investigation.  Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Download Crime Stoppers Bulletin 

- posted by Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Investigate Aggravated Battery With Firearm

UPDATE:  October 28, 2011:  Composite sketch of suspect has now been completed.

UPDATE:  October 25, 2011: Suspect is described as a black male, 5’09” to 5’11” tall, thin build with short natural hair.  Suspect has some gold teeth and a medium to dark complexion.   

UPDATE, October 22, 2011, 2:00 PM:  Lakeland Police have identified the aggravated battery victim as Jehad Hasan, age 42, of Kissimmee, Florida.  There is no update on the condition of the victim available today.

Lakeland Police responded to the Chicken Shack, 813 West Memorial Blvd., after receiving a report of a robbery at this location at approximately 5:15 pm on October 21, 2011.  An adult male victim was transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with injuries from a gunshot wound.  The victim was alone in the store at the time of the battery.  An unidentified adult male came into the store, shot the clerk, and then struck the clerk in the head before fleeing from the business.  The victim was transported to LRMC where he was listed in stable condition.  At this time it does not appear that anything was stolen from the business.  The name of the victim is not available at this time. 

This case is still under investigation.  Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to contact the Lakeland Police Department.  No additional information will be released tonight.

Download Crime Stoppers Bulletin 

- posted by Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Attempt to Identify Residential Burglary Suspects

Lakeland Police are attempting to identify two suspects of a residential burglary that occurred on August 9, 2011, in north Lakeland.  The two suspects are pictured in the images above.  If you feel you can identify these suspect, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-8477.

Download Crime Stoppers Bulletin

- posted by Sergeant Terri Smith