COPS CORNER 10.15.18

WINTER GARDEN

Oct. 12

13600 block of West Colonial Drive. Counter money. At approximately 1 a.m., an officer responded to a gas station in reference to a counterfeit $100 bill. According to the complainant, the male suspect attempted to purchase lottery tickets, cigarettes and food with the fake bill. However, the cashier noticed the bill was fake and refused to accept it. The cashier also recognized the customer as one who had previously attempted to use counterfeit $20 and $50 bills during prior incidents that went unreported by the business. According to an inspection of the bill by law enforcement, the bill was indeed counterfeit, as it was missing several watermarks and also lacked a reflective strip, color elements and ridged textures. Once law enforcement located the suspect, he was positively identified by the employee and arrested. Two small baggies coning meth were also discovered in the suspect's belongings. The suspect was charged with petit theft, possession of methamphetamine, and attempting to use forged bills. The United States Secret Service was notified of the incident.

Oct. 14

13000 block of West Colonial Drive. Grand theft. At about 1:50 p.m., an officer was conducting an area check around Ninth Street in search of a stolen white Toyota Highlander reported by the Apopka Police Department. During the middle of their investigation, Apopka police informed the Winter Garden Police Department that GPS monitoring displayed the location of the missing vehicle in the northeast area of Winter Garden and was possibly being driven by a white female with red hair. The Winter Garden police officer spotted a vehicle and woman matching the provided descriptions park in front of a gas station and enter the business. Upon exiting the business and noticing the police officer standing nearby, the woman changed course and began to walk away from the vehicle. The officer commanded the woman to stop, but as the officer drew closer, the woman threw a handful of coins at him and began to run away. However, the officer grabbed the woman and secured her in handcuffs despite her attempts to resist. The rightful owner of the vehicle eventually showed up, as did Apopka police, to identify the suspect and vehicle. The woman was arrested and charged with grand theft motor vehicle and resisting a law-enforcement officer without violence.

OCOEE

Oct. 15

10500 West Colonial Drive. Petit theft. At approximately 10:30 a.m., an officer responded to a Walmart in reference to an alleged retail theft. The officer was informed a female suspect entered the store and walked around the store while selecting certain items from the shelf and concealing them within her purse. She later exited the store without purchasing the items, which amounted to a total of $66.10. The woman was arrested and charged with petit theft.

OAKLAND

Oct. 12

300 block of North Tubb Street. Suspended license. Around 12:30 p.m., an officer traveling southbound on Tubb Street near Hickman Road observed a white Chrysler minivan fail to make a full stop at a stop sign. According to the officer, the vehicle paused then kept moving and parked nearby. The officer pulled up behind the vehicle and the male driver exited. The officer requested to see the driver’s license, but the driver said he did not have one because it had been suspended. The driver’s girlfriend then exited the vehicle and informed the officer they were just driving the vehicle to check on it because it had not been operating properly. The driver then told the officer he would likely be taking him to jail because he had a writ for child support. The driver was arrested.