LPD Online News

Lakeland Police Locate Endangered Missing Man in Lake

On July 3, 2009, police responded to 3461 Whitman Ct., to a call of an endangered missing adult.  Oscar Nieves, age 78, had walked away from his residence at approximately 8:45 p.m., and did not return.  Nieves suffers from alzheimers.  Police are trained that those with azheimers disease often go toward water when they wander from home.  Adjacent to Nieves’ residence is a wooded area and several lakes. Police began searching for Nieves through thick underbrush and rough terrain.  Polk County Sheriff’s Office utilized their helicopter to assist in the search, as well as K-9 bloodhounds.  Officers searched throughout the night.  At daylight, officers launched pontoon boats and continued to search the lakes and surrounding area for any sign of Nieves.

At approximately 8:00 a.m, Officer Todd Edwards and Public Service Aid Darlene Melius were searching from the bank of Lake Somerset (directly west of Nieves’ residence) when they observed Nieves in the water.  Rescuers were able to pull Nieves to safety.  Nieves was pale and shivering and was believed to have been in the water for approximately 10 hours.  Nieves did not appear to have suffered any other type of trauma to his body. Nieves was transported by ambulance to LRMC.  At last report, Nieves was being treated for hyperthermia and is expected to make a full recovery. 

For tips to prevent wandering with Alzheimer’s Disease, see the Mayo Clinic site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alzheimers/HQ00218,

and for more information on Alzheimer’s Disease the Alzheimer’s Foundation site is:  http://www.alzfdn.org/.

Media inquiries should be directed to Sgt. Terri Smith, pager 863.981.0196. 

Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Attempt to Identify Theft Suspects

Lakeland Police are attempting to identify suspects captured on surveillance video believed to be responsible for the theft of video game systems from Blockbuster,   4714 South Florida Avenue, on June 10, 2009. 

The black male is described as 5’10” tall, stocky build, and the black female was wearing blue hospital scrubs.

If you can identify these suspects, please contact the Lakeland Police Department, 863.834.6900, or Crime Stoppers, 800.226.TIPS (8477).   Media Contact is SergeantTerri Smith, Acting PIO, 863.834.6917.

Download Crime Stoppers Bulletin 

Download Additional Suspect  Photos

Sergeant Terri Smith 

Lakeland Police Arrest Car Jacking Suspect

On June 29, 2009, at approximately 10:00 pm, Mena took a vehicle left parked at the 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.  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.  As Mena drove off with the vehicle, Clary was thrown to the ground.  Clary received minor injuries.

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.  Mena stopped the vehicle in the area of 111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive and fled on foot.  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.  Mena was also arrested for violation of parole on a warrant from the State of Illinios.

Media inquiries should be directed to Sgt. Terri Smith, 863.834.6917.  

Download Affidavit

Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Attempt to Identify Theft Suspect

Lakeland Police are attempting to identify a subject captured in a surveillance video entering the All Saint Episcopal Church, 202 South Massachusetts Avenue, on June 26, 2009.  The suspect entered the church and removed a wooden box with the words “Day by Day” on it. 

The suspect is  described as a black male, 5’06” tall, medium length natural hair, clean shaven.

If you can identify this suspect, please contact the Lakeland Police Department, 863.834.6900, or Crime Stoppers, 800.226.TIPS (8477).

Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Investigate Suicide

Lakeland Police are investigating a suicide that occurred at 1640 East Fern Road in Lakeland on June 24, 2009.  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. 

Lakeland Police responded and made contact with two occupants of the residence and found that they had not made the call.  They directed an officer to the back of the house to the garage where the landlord lived.   As the officer approached the back yard, they observed vehicles parked behind the house.  One vehicle was running with a cable attached inside the vehicle and the other end attached to a pole in the garage.  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.  As officers approached the vehicle, they found Eric C. Lucht (W/M, DOB:  7/20/66) inside the vehicle deceased.   Lucht’s vehicle was running with the gear shift still positioned in drive.  The heat from the engine caused a small fire to start.  LFD responded and was able to extinguish the flames. 

Witnesses that knew Lucht stated that Lucht had a history of mental illness and had attempted suicide in the past.  Lucht had served in the military in Iraq and was honorably discharged in 2004.

Next of kin has been notified.  Media inquiries should be directed to Sgt. Terri Smith, 863.834.6917.  This information is also available on www.lpdonlinenews.com.

Sergeant Terri Smith
 

Lakeland Police Attempt to Locate Wanted Person

Update:  6/29/09, Suspect has Been Arrested

Lakeland Police are attempting to locate Fernando Soliz, age 37, who has an outstanding warrant for the offense of Aggravated Battery With a Deadly Weapon.  
 
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. 

Soliz is described as a hispanic male, DOB:  4/7/72,  approximately 5’10” tall, weighs 150 to 170 pounds, has a tattoo on the back of his neck “POPEYE”.  Soliz was last seen wearing tennis shoes that have red shoelaces.  Soliz has black, shoulder length, braided hair and was last known to reside in Kissimmee, Florida.

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.  Soliz should be considered armed and dangerous.  

MEDIA CONTACT: Sgt. Terri Smith - PIO, 863.834.6917   

Sergeant Terri Smith

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

Yesterday, Lakeland Police released that 1,021 red light violations had been approved for citations since cameras were installed at five major intersections to capture images of red light violators.  

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.  Citizens are reminded that in order to be in compliance with traffic laws, a driver must come to a complete stop behind the stop line/bar prior to making a right turn on red.  If a driver pulls into the intersection crossing over the stop line/bar before stopping, or simply slows down and “rolls” through the intersection without coming to a complete stop, they are considered to be in violation of the red light.

Police are stressing the importance of obeying these laws.  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. 

Media inquiries should be directed to Sgt. Terri Smith, 863.834.6917.  

Sergeant Terri Smith