The following information was gathered from incident and arrest reports obtained from the Plant City Police Department.
MARCH 6
HAVE YOU STOLEN A FORD, LATELY?
600 block of Walter Drive. Stolen Vehicle. The victim left her vehicle running and unattended while she went back into her apartment. While she was inside, unknown suspect(s) stole her red 2003 Ford Expedition, Florida tag BTUY58.
MARCH 7
FIVE-FINGER DISCOUNT
2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Retail Theft Arrest. Officers responded to this store in reference to the suspect, who was caught stealing by loss-prevention officials. After an investigation, the suspect was arrested and transported to the Orient Road Jail.
STICKER SHOCK
1300 block of South Walker Street. Theft From Vehicle. The victim reported the registration decal for his 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche was taken at an unknown time, while it was parked at his residence.
QUICK CASH
Intersection of Lowry Avenue and Violet Street. Vehicle Burglary. The victim stated unknown suspect(s) entered her 2005 Hyundai Elantra and stole $30 from her wallet and a gold chain from the cup holder.
MARCH 8
FORD FOUND
3500 block of West Baker Street. Recovered Stolen SUV. A red 2003 Ford Expedition was stolen March 6. This morning, the victim located the SUV behind the business, unlocked and unoccupied. The SUV was returned to the victim.
PICKUP PROBLEMS
600 block of West Ball Street. Criminal Mischief. The victim advised unknown person(s) broke the windshield on his 1999 white GMC pickup. The truck was parked at the location for most of the day, and he noticed when he was leaving. There were some small dings, possibly from BBs.
IMPAIRED AT THE INTERSECTION
Intersection of West Alexander Street and Baptist Church Road. DUI Investigation. The officer observed a vehicle stopped at the green light facing north on Baptist Church Road. He made contact with the driver and suspected him of being impaired. He was placed under arrest and booked for DUI.
EIGHT IS ENOUGH
Intersection of South Maryland Avenue and East Alsobrook Street. Driving While License Suspended with Knowledge. The officer stopped a vehicle for a window-tint violation and met with the suspect. An FCIC/NCIC check revealed he had eight suspensions on his driver’s license. He was arrested and transported to Orient Road Jail and released to detention staff.
DARK DAY
Intersection of North Plant Avenue and Thonotosassa Road. Drug Investigation. The officer conducted a stop on a vehicle for driving with no headlights. He met with the female driver to get her license. While at the vehicle, the officer detected the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A search yielded marijuana, which the passenger said was his. He was arrested.
HEAVY FOOT
Intersection of West County Road 574 and Oakbrook Lane. Drug Investigation; No Valid Driver’s License. The officer stopped a vehicle for speeding (60 mph in a 45-mph zone) and made contact with the driver. An FCIC/NCIC check revealed he had no Florida driver’s license and two suspensions on his ID card. The officer also found marijuana in the vehicle. The suspect was transported to Orient Road Jail and released to detention staff without incident.
MARCH 10
MAYTAG MAYDAY
510 block of South Morgan Street. Residential Burglary. The victim reported that while she was on vacation, someone entered her residence and stole her washer and dryer.
MOBILE METH
Intersection of South Evers and West Strickland streets. Manufacturing of Meth; Trafficking in Meth; Possession of Precursor Chemicals. The officer was investigating a suspicious vehicle when he approached a green Toyota. The officer could see there was several chemicals present on the seat of the car. He could also see there were two two-liter bottles on the floorboard of the passenger rear. One of the bottles was fizzing. Other officers responded and confirmed the suspect was cooking meth in the bottles. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office on-site disposal team responded and dealt with the cooking meth.
MARCH 11
FIST FLIES
1110 block of North Maryland Avenue. Dating Violence. The female suspect entered the bathroom where her boyfriend was taking a shower, and began to punch him in the head.
MARCH 12
BELIEVE IN YOUR SMELLF
2100 block of West Baker Street. Retail Theft. The store employee advised a male took a bottle of Old Spice body wash, valued at $5.79. The subject was wearing a black shirt and black parachute-type pants with a white stripe down the side. The Hispanic suspect had a medium build, was in his early 20s, no facial hair and short black hair. A check of the area for the subject was unsuccessful.
SCARY SITUATION
1310 block of East Alabama Street. Aggravated Assault with a Firearm. The victim advised that she was standing outside of the residence when the suspect pulled up in a white Pontiac Grand Am and put a gun to the back of her head.
BAD HIRE
1700 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Grand Theft. The officer responded to the cellular phone store in reference a theft by an employee. He met with a business representative, who advised that a former employee stole $864.37 from the business to date.
THAT’S A LOT OF SUSHI
200 block of West Alexander Street. Fraudulent Use of a Credit/Debit Card. The victim advised there was a fraudulent charge of his credit card from a Japanese restaurant in Plant City in the amount of $159 that he did not charge or authorize.
HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY
Intersection of Lake Boulevard and West Reynolds Street. Traffic Stop/Drug Investigation. The officer responded to a call for backup by a fellow officer, who was stopping a vehicle riding with no headlights. During the encounter, contact was made with the driver and front-seat passenger, who stated he had some “weed” in his front pants pocket. Marijuana was recovered from his pocket. The suspect was arrested and later released with a court date. The driver received a written warning for driving with no headlights.
MARCH 13
HOW DID THOSE GET IN THERE?
2100 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Drug Possession. Contact was made with the suspect, who was standing in front of the department store. The suspect gave consent to search his backpack. Officers found marijuana and Xanax pills in the backpack. The suspect was transported to Orient Road Jail.
MISSING WHEELS
1410 block of South Evers Street. Stolen Bicycle. The victim left his bicycle outside this laundromat. When he returned 15 minutes later, it was missing. The bicycle is a chrome Mongoose with blue front and rear forks, and a gold lock with a bike chain attached.
OOPS
Intersection of South Collins and East Alsobrook streets. Warrant Arrest. The officer stopped a vehicle, in reference to a front-seat passenger not wearing a seat belt. An FCIC/NCIC check revealed the passenger also had Polk County Sheriff’s Office warrants for three counts of obtaining property with worthless checks.