LPD Online News

Lakeland Police Investigate Shooting

 Lakeland Police are investigating a home invasion that occurred at approximately 10:13 a.m., on July 8, 2009, at 1109 Olive Street, where suspects shot victim, Alexander Harris (B/M, DOB:  3/6/77) inside his residence and then left the scene in an orange Dodge Magnum.  Police observed the suspect vehicle and pursued it until it crashed at 1919 West 10th Street.   The suspects fled on foot from the vehicle into a wooded area where one suspect was apprehended by patrol officers.  The other suspect remains at large at this time.
 
The suspect taken into custody is identified as Joseph Cameron Reed, DOB:  8/19/89.  Reed has been charged with Aggravated Battery W/Firearm (F1), Armed Burglary W/Assault (F1), Burglary of Conveyance (F3), Motor Vehicle Theft (F3), Aggravated Fleeing to Elude (F2), and Resisting Office W/O Violence (M1).

A warrant has been issued for suspect Jamar RaShay Everett (B/M, DOB:  2/20/89) on the same charges.  If you know the whereabouts of Everett, please contact the Lakeland Police Department.  Everett should be considered armed and dangerous.  Do not attempt to make contact with Everett.
 
Harris was transported to LRMC and was treated for a gunshot wound to the upper thigh.   His condition does not appear to be life threatening.

Information will be released as it becomes available.  Media inquiries should be directed to Sergeant Terri Smith, pager 863.981.0196. 

Sergeant Terri Smith

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