News and Investigations

On Tuesday, February 23, 2016, PCSO detectives arrested: 

· 15-year-old Joshua D. Hamilton – charged with three counts of Burglary, three counts of Grand Theft and Criminal Mischief

· 15-year-old Forrest H. Kinsley – charged with Burglary of Structure, Grand Theft, and VOP

· 16-year-old Mark Dejesus – charged with Burglary of Structure, Grand theft, and VOP

· 17-year-old Austin Self – charged with Burglary of Structure and Grand Theft 

On Monday, February 15, 2016, PCSO detectives responded to 1099 Clubhouse Road, in Winter Haven, after receiving a report of a burglary to a maintenance building on the property.   

At approximately $8,000 worth of property was taken from the building which included a large mower specifically designed for golf course maintenance.  The mower was later found stuck in the mud along the property fence line. 

Through the investigation, detectives learned the suspects who had broken into the property had cut a barbed wire fence to get to the maintenance building before forcing their way into the building.   

During the course of the initial investigation, two subsequent burglaries occurred at the same location.  On Tuesday, February 16, 2016, a $35,000 tractor was taken.  The tractor was later found in a nearby pasture submerged in a pond. 

On Friday, February 19, 2016, detectives learned someone had returned to the property and attempted to remove the same mower from the first incident.  Detectives found evidence of the mower being started while inside the building.  The suspect was unable to remove the mower from the building and it was found crashed into the bay door. 

Through the investigation, detectives identified four suspects, Hamilton, Kinsley, Dejesus, and Self.  Detectives learned all four had participated in the original burglary and that Hamilton had committed the second and third burglaries alone.  Hamilton told detectives he was stealing the equipment for joy rides. 

All four suspects reside in the Whispering Trails subdivision.  They were transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center late evening Tuesday, February 23, 2016.  

At the time of the burglary, Kinsley was on probation for Battery on a law enforcement officer and Dejesus was on probation for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.