News and Investigations

On March 18, 2018 at 3:07 a.m., the Orlando Police Department arrested three teens in a stolen car who are suspected in several business burglaries in their jurisdiction, which subsequently helped Polk County Sheriff's Office detectives solve a smash-and-grab burglary of an EZ Wireless store in Lakeland that occurred earlier that morning.

The Polk County burglary occurred at about 1:07 a.m., two hours prior to the Orlando burglary, at the 6635 South Florida Avenue cell phone store in Lakeland. Security video showed the front glass door being shattered, and five suspects taking thirty replacement glass phone screens, and eight cell phones that were there to be repaired.  All five suspects were wearing hoodies and gloves, and the total value of stolen items was $4,000.

Cell phones recovered  by Orlando P.D. in the stolen car in their jurisdiction later that morning were determined to be those stolen from EZ Wireless. The car was stolen from a residence in Mulberry on March 17, 2018.

The suspects arrested in Orlando were identified as: 14-year-old Javier Benito from Mulberry, 16-year-old Jarret Frederick from Nichols, and 16-year-old Joshua Deus from Bartow.  Through their investigation, PCSO detectives were able to identify one of the two remaining suspects as 15-year-old Ivan Hernandez from Mulberry.  PCSO Detectives met with him at Mulberry High School, and during an interview, he confessed to stealing the car and committing the EZ Wireless store burglary with the other suspects. Efforts continue in order to identify the last suspect.

PCSO detectives charged all four teens with the following: 

• Burglary-Structure/Damage (F-1)
• Grand Theft (F-3)
• Conspiracy Commit Burglary Structure (F-3)
• Conspiracy Commit Grand Theft (F-3)
• Possession of Burglary Tools With Intent To Use (F-3)
• Tampering with Physical Evidence (F-3)

Deus was also charged with Violation of Probation for a 2017 burglary of a marked PCSO vehicle.  

Deus has a prior criminal history of 17 felonies which include: Armed Burglary, Theft of a Firearm (2), Carry Concealed Weapon (2), Possession of Weapon/Ammo by convicted FL Felon, Felony Battery on school employee, Theft of LEO equipment from vehicle, Burglary (2), Grand Theft of a Vehicle, Conspiracy, Criminal Mischief over $200, Grand Theft, Possession of marijuana with intent to sell.  Prior misdemeanor charges include: petit theft, resisting arrest, marijuana possession, and paraphernalia possession.

Benito has a prior criminal history of 10 felonies which include: Lewd & Lascivious, Conspiracy, Possession of a weapon on school property, Burglary (3), Grand theft (3), and Violation of Probation. Prior misdemeanor charges include: petit theft (2).

Hernandez has prior felonies, including Burglary and Tampering with evidence. 

Frederick has two prior felonies, both of which were burglaries, and two prior misdemeanor thefts.

"These teens were out committing serious crimes in two different counties starting at one o'clock in the morning. As illustrated by their criminal histories, they're definitely walking down the wrong path in life, and their punishment needs to reflect that." - Grady Judd, Sheriff 

Deus, Hernandez, and Frederick were transported to the Polk County Juvenile Assessment Center.  Benito remains at the Orange Regional Juvenile Detention Center. 

If you have any information that could help identify and lead to the arrest of the fifth suspect, please call Detective O'Dell at 863-499-2400.

Anyone with information who wants to REMAIN ANONYMOUS and be eligible for a CASH REWARD is asked to call HEARTLAND CRIME STOPPERS AT 1-800-226-TIPS or log onto www.P3tips.com to submit your tip via the web.

For more information about the Orlando burglaries, please contact Orlando P.D.