LPD Online News

Lakeland Police Search for Armed Robbery Suspects

Warrants have been issued for Joshua Antwon Holland and Joshua D. McCall for Armed Robbery with a Firearm. 

If you have any information regarding these suspects or know of there whereabouts, please contact the Lakeland Police Department, 863.834.6900, or Crime Stoppers 1.800.226.TIPS. 

These suspects should be considered armed and dangerous.  If you come into direct contact with them, do not approach, but call police immediately.

Download Crime Stoppers Bulletin for Reward Information 1

Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Attempt to Identify Grand Theft Suspect

Lakeland Police are attemtping to identify individual suspected of stealing merchandise from Target, 3570 Harden Bl., Lakeland, Florida, on three separate occasions.

Download Heartland Crime Stoppers Bulletin for additional information on crime suspect and details to collect reward for information_10

Sergeant Terri Smith

LAKELAND POLICE INVESTIGATE DROWNING

At approximately 12:45 p.m., police responded to the Kingston Inn, 910 E Memorial Bl.,  Lakeland,  Florida, in reference to a drowning.  Jacqueline Powell, age 38, was caring for 4 year old Tia Green and another 3 year old child at the motel.  Jacqueline later stated she had fed both children breakfast and gone back to sleep.  When Jacqueline woke up, the children were no longer in the room.   The desk chair was near the door and the door chain unlatched allowing the door to be opened.  Jacqueline went looking for the children and found rescue workers at the pool with Tia.  Witnesses had found Tia in the swimming pool at the motel and called  EMS. Tia was transported to  Lakeland Regional Medical Center where she later died.

At this time, this case appears to be an accidental drowning, and no charges are expected to be filed.  Tia Green’s father, Timothy Green, was not at the motel when the incident occurred.  The other child was located unharmed.  Next of kin has been notified in this case.  No additional information will be released tonight. 

 

Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Identify Armed Robbery Suspect

3/20/09:  At approximately 5:46 pm, police received a call that a person had been shot at 1510 Kathleen Road in  Lakeland.  Police responded and found two victims of a personal robbery.  One victim had been shot, and the other “pistol whipped” by the suspect, now identified as Rodney Deshun Smith, DOB:  10/7/79, or 11148 Stoney Pt Ln W, Jacksonville, FL.  Witnesses stated that the suspect had fled in a Ford sedan.  The shooting victim was transported to  Lakeland Regional Medical Center. 

The victim that was shot in this incident is Ronald Fernandaz, 221 Eastside Dr.,  Lakeland, age 25.  The victim that was pistol whipped is  Santos Perez, 2415 Houchen Rd.,  Ft. Meade,  FL, age 43.  Three other victims of this same robbery are Domingo Lavander, 6727 Lois Av., Tampa, FL, age 34; Bladimir Salgado, 1940 Elliott St., Lakeland, FL, age 35;  and Ramone E. Fradera, 2451 Deltona Bl., Spring Hill, FL, age 32.

Officers spotted the Smith’s vehicle at the location of 98 Bypass and South Florida Avenue in  Lakeland.  Smith fled from officers and crashed into a pole at 400 South Lake Avenue in  Lakeland.  Smith fired shots at officers and fled on foot from the scene. 

Smith then carjacked victims driving a Nissan Maxima at the location of 811 East Palmetto Street.  The car jacking victims were not injured.  The victim in the Nissan Maxima is Breanna N. Young, 725 E Orange St., #7,  Lakeland, age 18.  The suspect approached Ms. Young who was sitting in the car at the Laundromat with two young children in the vehicle and ordered her and the children from the vehicle. 

Officers located the Nissan Maxima in the area of Rushing Avenue and McDonald Street.  Officers pursued this vehicle to County Line Road and Shepherd Road where police were able to disable the vehicle Smith was driving at approximately 6:14 pm.  Smith died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

 

Officer Scott Kercher received minor injuries during the course of this incident, and was treated and released from  Lakeland Regional Medical Center.  No shots were fired during this event by  Lakeland Police Officers.  This investigation is ongoing. No additional information will be released tonight.  Next of kin for Rodney Smith has been notified.  For additional information tomorrow, contact Sergeant Terri Smith, Acting PIO, at 863.981.0196. 

UPDATE: Lakeland Police Charge Man with Lewd & Lascivious Act on a Child

 

 

On 3/19/09, the following additional chargers were filed on Christopher Dominic Mauro, (DOB:  7/10/79):

    1.   Sexual  Battery on a Child under 12 (3 Counts) Capital Felony

    2.   Molestation on a child under 12 (2 Counts) Life Felony

   3.  Battery of a Child Expelling Fluids (3 Counts) 3^rd Degree Felony. 

These additional charges are the result of forensic examination of digital images found in Mauro’s home.  No additional information will be released on this case until sometime next week.  The case remains under an ongoing investigation.

 

On 3/18/09, police executed a search warrant at 6258 Peacock Run, Lakeland, after a roommate advised she had found explicit photographs of a young girl on her roommate’s computer.

 

Police found explicit images of a child Mauro had been babysitting for a few days on a computer belonging to Christopher Dominic Mauro (DOB:  7/10/79).  The child belonged to an acquaintance of Mauro’s from Largo,  Florida. Mauro was arrested without incident when he was located in  St. Petersburg with the child. The child was not physically harmed.

Mauro’s computer contained a collection of pornographic images which is still being examined.  The lead investigative agency on this case is the FBI Innocent Image Task Force, comprised of officers from several agencies including the Lakeland Police Department and FDLE.

Mauro has been charged with Promoting Sexual Performance of a Child, Sexual Performance of a Child and Lewd and Lascivious Molestation.   Other State and Federal Charges are pending based on forensic examination of the computer. 

 

Sergeant Terri Smith 

Warrant Issued in Attempted First Degree Murder, Lakeland Police Search for Suspect

UPDATE:  GIBSON WAS ARRESTED ON 3/29/09.

 

A warrant has been issued for Cornelius Patrick Gibson for Attempted First Degree Murder as a result of a shooting that occurred on Monday, March 16, 2009, at approximately 12:05 am, at 1734 Crystal Grove Drive, Lakeland.  The victim in this shooting, Alfred Lawrence Dodd (age 29), was transported to  Lakeland Regional Medical Center.  Dodd’s condition is unknown at this time. 

Gibson’s last known address is 1667 Crystal Park South, Lakeland,  Florida.  Anyone who may know the whereabouts of Gibson is asked to contact  Detective Stacey Pough, 863.834.8978, or the  Lakeland Police Department at 863.834.6900.

Do not approach Gibson on sight.  Gibson should be considered armed and dangerous.  If you come into contact with Gibson, contact police immediately. 

 

For additional information contact Sgt. Terri Smith, Acting PIO, 863-981-0196.    Download Crime Stoppers Bulletin 

 

Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Investigate Shooting at Lakeside Village

The Lakeland Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred on Saturday, March 14, 2009, at approximately 11:00 p.m., at  Lakeside  Village,  1650 Town Center Drive North,  Lakeland,  Florida. 

The victim, Demetrice Maurice Coney, age 18, of  Lakeland, suffered a minor gunshot wound to his arm after an altercation with an unknown subject.  Coney was treated and released from Lakeland Regional Medical Center. 

This case is under an active investigation. 

Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Arrest Men on Robbery Charge

The Lakeland Police Department has arrested Darius Jerome Bell, DOB:  11/4/89 and Phillip Mount, DOB:  3/24/89,  for armed robberies that occurred in Lakeland.  The affidavit is attached.

For additional information contact Jack Gillen, PIO, 863-981-0196. 

Download Complaint Affidavit for Robbery

Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Arrest Suspect In Child Homicide

The Lakeland Police Department arrested Matthew Robert Wyrosdick, DOB:  9/23/76 on charges of Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child, a 1^st degree felony, as a result of the investigation into the death of Zachary Cole Johnson, DOB:  9/27/07.  The arrest affidavit is attached.

 

Download Complaint Affidavit

 

For additional information contact Jack Gillen, PIO, 863-981-0196. 

 

Sergeant Terri Smith

Lakeland Police Issue "Scam" Alert

The Lakeland Police Department has received reports from residents stating they have received telephone calls from an unknown male caller who says he is from Mid-Florida Credit Union.  The caller then states that there has been unusual activity on their account.  So far, those reporting this incident have stated that no further information has been requested by the unknown caller.

 

The Lakeland Police Department would like residents to be informed of these complaints, and advise anyone receiving a call like this to not share your account information with anyone but a verified bank representative.

 

If you have any information regarding this scam, please contact Jack Gillen, Public Information Officer, 863.834.6949. 

 

For further information on protecting yourself against telephone scams, you can find information on the Federal Trade Commission website:  http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/telemarketing/tel12.shtm.

 

Sergeant Terri Smith