$3,310.00 is the reward amount that was approved at the Heartland Crime Stoppers September 24, 2012 Monthly Board of Director`s Meeting. Fourteen (14) people will recieve their portion of that money, which averages $236.43 per person. All they had to do was to contact Heartland Crime Stoppers with information they already had on someone involved in a criminal act.

Some of the cases for which rewards were approved included Possession of Methamphetamine, two (2) cases of Retail Theft, fugitives with outstanding warrants, a stolen vehicle, and Possession of 5.5 pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Sell .

Additionally,  several rewards were approved as part of the Student Crime Stoppers Program. Those cases included students using marijuana and K-2 at a bus stop and on the school bus, another student for Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Sell, and another for theft of an Iphone.  

Our thanks to the people who took a stand against crime !

The scheduled August 27, 20122 Board of Directors Meeting was been re-scheduled for Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at 5:15 pm. This change is due to the approach of Tropical Strom Issac, which is expected to impact Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties on Monday, August 27th.

The re-scheduled meeting will be held on September 4th, at the Polk County Sheriff`s Office Southwest Command, 4120 US 98 South Lakeland.

News Release 7/3/12

Heartland Crime Stoppers Approve $7,175.00 in Rewards for June 2012.

The Heartland Crime Stoppers Board of Directors met on Monday, June 23, 2012, where they approved thirty (30) rewards totaling $7,175.00. The rewards included:

1- $1,000.00 to a Tipster who reported the whereabouts of Roy Rivera-Jimenez, who was wanted on charges of Violation of Probation/Sell of Schedule I & II Drugs, and Failure to Report for Weekend Work Release (No Driver’s License). Polk County Deputies responded to the location and arrested Rivera-Jimenez on the outstanding warrants. As the result of this contact, Deputies found drugs and placed additional charges on Rivera-Jimenez for Trafficking In Hydrocodone, Possession of Cannabis over 20 grams, Possession of Cannabis within 1000 feet of a Church, Utilizing a Dwelling to Sell/Traffic Narcotics, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Two other people in the home were also arrested: Elizabeth Colon was charged with Trafficking In Hydrocodone, Possession of Cannabis over 20 grams, Possession of Cannabis within 1000 feet of a Church, Utilizing a Dwelling to Sell/Traffic narcotics, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Enoc Colon was arrested for Possession of Cannabis over 20 grams, Possession of Cannabis within 1000 feet of a Church, Utilizing a Dwelling to Sell/Traffic narcotics, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. (See photos below)

2- $715.00 to a Tipster who reported where Latina Phillip could be located. Phillips had outstanding warrants for Failure to Appear/Permitting an Unauthorized Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle, Failure to Appear/Petit Theft, Violation of Probation/Uttering a Forged Instrument (2 Counts), Violation of Probation/Petit Theft, Violation of Probation/Grand Theft, and Violation of Probation/Criminal Use of a Personal ID. Polk County Deputies responded and arrested Phillips on the aforementioned charges. Also arrested, as a part of this investigation, was Djerid Corona for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Maintaining a Vehicle for Drug Use. (See photos below)

3-  $435.00 to a Tipster who reported that Daniel White was involved in Identity Theft and filing false tax returns. This information was forwarded to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. An investigation by FDLE resulted in the arrest of Daniel White on 39 counts of Filing False Claims, 1 count of Aggravated Identity Theft, and 1 count of Wire Fraud.

4- $390.00 to a Tipster who reported a subject selling methamphetamines from the suspect’s job. An investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office resulted in the arrest of Shawn Williams  on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance Without a Prescription, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Heartland Crime Stoppers would like to thank all the concerned citizens who share information on crimes and criminals with us. It is with their assistance, that criminals are being held accountable for their crimes and dangerous felons are being removed from our neighborhoods.

Heartland Crime Stoppers has changed it`s meeting date for May  to Monday, May 21, 2012. The meeting begins at 5: 15 PM and will be held at the Polk County Sheriffs Office Southwest District Command, 4120 US 98 South, Lakeland, Fl.

The reason for the change is due to the normal meeting date of the Fourth (4th) Monday of each month, falls on Memorial Day (28th) for May 2012. 

Heartland Crime Stoppers has moved to a new physical location with new phone numbers and email. PLease note the changes show below :

Heartland Crime Stopppers

1891 Jim Keene Blvd                                                                                          

Winter Haven, Florida 33830

Office 863.293.2500

Fax    863.293.1800

Email: hcrimestoppers@gmail.com

A Special Meeting of the Board of Directors has been called for Monday, March 12, 2012. The meeting will start at 5:15 pm at the Polk County Sheriff`s Office Southwest Command Office, located at 4120 US 98 South, Lakeland, Florida.

The purpose of this meeting is to review and vote on recent changes to the Heartland Crime Stoppers By-Laws and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

The Heartland Crime Stoppers Board of Directors approved rewards totaling $2,720.00 at their monthly meeting on February 27, 2012. The rewards went to 16 individuals, with the average reward being  $232.50.

The breakdown in cases is as follows:

School tips, drugs: 5                                                                                      

School tip, other:1

Warrants: 4

Drug Activity: 3    Recovered was Marijuana plants valued at $1,000.00

Sex Offenders: 2

Moonshine: 1    Recovered was 13 gallons of moonshine.

A tip called in to Heartland Crime Stoppers resulted in the arrest of Amanda Akins for stealing a box of donated toys in the Hungry Howies in Polk City. Akins was charged with Grand Theft and transported to the Polk County Jail.

This tipster received $225.00 reward!

A tip to Heartland Crime Stoppers on narcotic activity resulted in the arrest of Michael Serante for possession of cocaine, possesion of drug parapharnalia, and possession of cannibis.

This tipster received a reward of $390.00.