Latest news with #WHPD
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Winter Haven teen arrested for robbery during Facebook Marketplace meet-up
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (WFLA)—A teen was arrested for armed robbery after he stole a key fob programming device during a Facebook Marketplace transaction, the Winter Haven Police Department announced. On May 6, around 7:25 p.m., the victim met with the 17-year-old on Fuji Court in Winter Haven to sell an AUTEL key fob programming device that he used for his locksmith business. The victim opened the trunk of his car to get the time and was taking it out of the case when the suspect asked how to pay, police said. Lakeland leaders consider school speed zone enforcement cameras Winter Haven teen arrested for robbery during Facebook Marketplace meet-up Man arrested for drunk driving with child in car on I-4: FHP The teen suggested CashApp, and the victim, who had his back to the teen, called his girlfriend to get the information for her CashApp account. The teen then grabbed the machine from the victim and began running through yards in the neighborhood. Police said the victim chased the teen and grabbed his hoodie pocket before the teen crashed through a plastic fence gate. The teen then got up and hit the victim before continuing to run until the victim could no longer keep up. Officers were called back to the home where the teen crashed through the fence on May 7, because the homeowner located a magazine for a firearm in the yard on the front side of the gate, WHPD said. On May 9, the same homeowner called police to report that when they were taking out the garbage from behind the gate to the curb, a Ruger 9mm pistol was found. This firearm was reported stolen from a vehicle on April 9, 2025. Video from the date of the robbery was obtained by police on May 14 and showed the teen walking from the Gotthard Pass area to Seedorf Drive, where he got into a blue Mercedes-Benz SUV driven by his mother. Detectives contacted the teen's parents, who identified him in the video, and his mother stated she got a call from him asking her to pick him up. His mother told detectives she could tell something was wrong, but the teen would not say what it was. Video taken from the teen's home showed him exiting the vehicle just after officers passed the location during the initial response to the robbery, WHPD said. The teen was questioned, and he told them he took the item from the victim and sold it to someone in Winter Haven. The teen was taken into custody on May 14 and charged with robbery with a firearm, dealing in stolen property, and violation of probation from another county for three separate cases in 2023, police said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Winter Haven PD releases bodycam video after photo of child with hands behind back circulates on social media
The Brief Winter Haven police addressed an incident involving a small child while officers worked to detain two people on Tuesday. The child's mother was ordered to get on the ground, which is when the child mimicked her actions. Winter Haven police said they detained the woman, and immediately calmed the child down, saying the officer's gun was never pointed at the child. WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Winter Haven Police Department is addressing an incident that happened Tuesday afternoon involving a small child while officers worked to detain two people. The backstory Officials said Winter Haven police officers were dispatched to Santiago's, which is located at 898 Havendale Boulevard, for a disturbance involving a gun. The police department said the 29-year-old seen with the gun got into an altercation with a store employee in the parking lot, but the 29-year-old man ultimately left the property heading south on Hwy 17. READ: Florida man accused of taking out 'man bits' in back of Lyft ride from Walmart to mobile home park: PCSO A "be on the lookout" (BOLO) was issued after the disturbance for a red Nissan Altima with the 29-year-old as the driver and a woman and small child as the passengers. Officers said they found the vehicle at the American Legion, located at 300 Avenue M NW in Winter Haven. Dig deeper The 29-year-old man and the woman and child had gotten out of the vehicle, and the man was found inside the building where he was quickly apprehended by officers. The 27-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was also directed to get on the ground, and she immediately complied with their orders. However, her young child mimicked her actions, which sparked outrage on social media from community members. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The 27-year-old woman was quickly detained by officers, and WHPD said they immediately calmed and cared for the young child. A diamondback 9mm semiautomatic pistol was found inside the vehicle by officers. What they're saying In a press release sent out Wednesday afternoon, WHPD officials stood behind the officers' actions, saying that they "responded with an appropriate level of caution with the understanding there was a weapon involved seeking to resolve the situation." Authorities said the officer approaching the 27-year-old woman immediately pointed his gun toward the ground when he saw the child. WHPD said the officer's gun was never pointed at the child. MORE: 33 arrested as Hillsborough deputies dismantle drug-trafficking ring run with smuggled prison cell phone: HCSO The department notified the Department of Children and Families of the incident, because "it was a violent crime committed in the presence of a child." However, both the man and woman were released by police, along with they child, because the store employee didn't press charges. The 29-year-old man, 27-year-old woman and the store employee were not identified by FOX 13, because they were not charged with any crime related to the incident. What's next Officials said that a complaint affidavit was filed with the State Attorney's Office for the 29-year-old man for affray, which means fighting in a public setting, and improper display of a weapon. A complaint affidavit was also filed for the store employee for affray. Winter Haven Police Chief Vance Monroe, Assistant City Manager for Public Safety Charlie Bird and City Manager T. Michael Stavres are expected to address the incident at 10 a.m. on Thursday. The Source The information in this story was released by the Winter Haven Police Department. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
