The new police chief for Plant City Police Department (PCPD) will be Richard Mills, Jr. Mills, who currently oversees the Special Operations Division of the Tampa Police Department, will take the reins from current Chief of Police James Bradford on July 8, 2024. City Manager Bill McDaniel selected Mills from a group of five finalists.
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The Plant City Police Department (PCPD) has a bicycle squad of three people it can deploy as needed.
PCPD started the squad last year. Officer Hartmann, Officer Wise, and Sergeant Tester took a 40-hour training class to qualify for bicycle patrol. “You might think it is just riding a bike, but they put you through some cruel obstacle courses,” said Wise. “It’s not just riding like a normal person. It was a very difficult class and it was challenging.” There were many officers at the training from different agencies that are starting bike squads.
“Those bicycles are great,” Officer Wise continued. “We’ve been given the opportu-
nity to go out on nights because they are so quiet we can ride up on people....we have been able to roll up on people committing crimes and they don’t even hear us coming.”
PCPD also deploys the bikes to parades. During the Christmas Parade some teenagers and young adults were fighting and generally causing trouble. When officers attempted apprehend them they ran. But even though they were young, fast and difficult to catch on foot, they could not get away from the officers on bicycles. “We were able to corral them back in and the other officers were able find out what was going on,” Wise said.
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PHOTO ARCHIVES ADOPTS NEW HOURS
David Moon, Executive Director of the Photo Archives and History Center, released news that the Archives has established new hours of operation to better serve the community. Previously being open Monday through Thursday, the new hours will be Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“The previous Monday usage was not in demand,” Moon said, “and the Evers Street and downtown activity that has developed seems to be a much better fit to be open on Fridays.”
Moon also welcomes the community to meet Tammy Surratt, the new Office Manager, and to stop in to discuss plans for the future operations of the Archives.
ALERT! ALERT! CONSTRUCTION AHEAD! DETOURS!
Reminder: construction has begun on I-4 on the westbound on and off ramps from County Line Road to McIntosh Road. The purpose of this project is to resurface the ramps. Ramp closures and accompanying detours are during weekends only and will begin on Fridays at 9:00 p.m. and end on Mondays at 5:00 a.m. The current schedule is below.
Park Road: May 10 – May 13
Wheeler Street/Paul S. Buchman Highway: May 17 – May 20
Alexander Street: May 31 – June 3
Thonotosassa Road: June 7 – June 10
Branch Forbes Road: June 14 – June 17
After the westbound ramps are completed the current plan is for construction to then turn around and work on the eastbound side starting with the Branch Forbes Road on and off ramps and ending with the County Line Road on and off ramps. Dates may be altered due to inability to reach agreements on detours or inclement weather.
On Thursday, May 16th, Hope Lutheran Church, 2001 North Park Road, will again host their mobile food pantry in the church parking lot. This pantry, in association with St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Lakeland, will begin distributing food to those in need beginning at 6:00 p.m. until the supplies are distributed. Anyone in need of grocery assistance is encouraged to join the event as the church works to eliminate food insecurities in our community. Various goods are available from vegetables to meats to dairy and bakery goods. The pantry, "Moving Hope," takes place at Hope Lutheran on the 3rd Thursday of each month. No identification is required and the pantry is open to anyone in our Plant City community needing an extra hand of help. For additional information, contact the church office at 813-752-4622.
On April 21, Plant City Democrats cleaned up and installed plants at the Imagination Garden at Burton Memorial
PLANT CITY OPTIMIST CLUB TRI-STAR SOCCER
PLANT CITY STUDENT PLACES THIRD Plant City Optimist Club Oratorical Contest representative Marley Mueller placed third at the North Florida District Oratorical Competition held Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Bushnell. This placement secured the Plant City High School sophomore a $1,000 college sponsorship.
[photo 3 Marley]
OPTIMIST CLUB FUND RAISER
For the month of May 2024, whenever a $2.99 reusable Community Bag is purchased at the Winn-Dixie located at 204 West Alexander Street in Plant City, $1 will be donated to the Optimist Club of Plant City. This is a great way to broaden awareness and help their cause.
Information is available at: https://www. plantcityoptimistclub.org/community-bagprogram
Pictured Above are the Plant City Optimist Club Tri-Star award recipients who were able to attend the award ceremony. Back Row (L-R): Austin Faircloth, Elizabeth Unsworth, Sebastian Ocegueda, Landon Hughes, Adrian Avalos.
Front Row (L-R): Carlos Miranda, Anderson Salas, Madilynn Espinoza, Ava Lor, Thiago Pena.
COUNTRYWOOD VETERANS SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO PLANT CITY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
Plant City’s Countrywood Veterans awarded four $1,000 scholarships to Junior ROTC students. Throughout the year the veterans group holds fund raisers like its 9-hole Memorial Day golf tournament to underwrite these scholarships.
Countrywood Veterans Committee members Lou Malagrino and Jim Lauraine presented Mikeya Nesbitt and Kylie Morgan with their scholarships.
Michael Clark and Jim Lauraine, presented Andrew Walls and Riley Wilson.
When the squad is working parades they are also able to easily patrol up and down a parade route because they can move through a parade area quickly and easily since the bicycles are able to go places that vehicles can’t. At the last Christmas parade someone broke their leg. Bike officers were able to quickly identify the injured person’s location and were among the first to arrive at the scene to help.
When the bicycle officers are on patrol, they have also found that the bicycles connect them to the community in a new way. “There is something about the bikes that the younger kids want to come up and talk to us when we are on them,” Wise said. “They just love it when they see us on them when we ride them through the neighborhoods.”
One 10 year old had become a habitual runaway. Living in a foster care home, any time something would upset him, Tommy (not his real name) would run away. On one particular runaway night, Officer Wise was one of the ones who located Tommy. Rather than just take him back to his foster home, Wise sat and talked with the child. “The little boy told me that nobody loved him, and that is why he ran away all the time and why he was upset,” the officer said. “Of course it is upsetting to hear he thought nobody in the world loved him. So I talked with him some more and spent time with him.” Wise found out Tommy loves cars. It turns out Wise had access to a remote-controlled car that had been donated to police.
When Wise took the boy back to his foster home, he found there were two other boys in the home who were about the same age. The officer had a
great idea. “If you don’t run away any more and behave better, then I will give you this car,” Wise told Tommy. “And I will keep coming by to check on you and make sure things are good.” The officer did keep checking on Tommy. The officer waited for the foster mother (about whom Wise says, “She is a great person. She takes very good care of them.”) to tell him that Tommy had not been running away for some time. With Christmas approaching, Tommy had stopped running away, and his behavior had been good.
During Christmas people donate gifts to PCPD to be given to people in need. Rather than show up with something for just Tommy, Wise and other officers visited the home with several presents that he thought the boys would need. The officers gave gifts to all three boys. Wise gave Tommy the donated car that he wanted so badly. “I told him that people do care about him and there is always going to be somebody that will,” the officer said. “He’s been so much better according to his foster mother. He still has his episodes, but he is doing a lot better. Because he is having a little trouble in school—he’s not doing his daily work and he is not behaving the way he should—I recently made a new deal with him.” By the end of the school year Tommy has to get his work done and do better at school. The other two boys were also having a little trouble in school, so Wise made a deal with all three of them. Tommy, in particular, wants another car—a Challenger SRT remote-controlled one. “I go by quite a bit to check on them and make sure that they understand I am not going to just disappear, Wise said. “I said I care, and I do. They are good kids but they have had bad luck in life—a raw deal, so I am trying to make it better.”
Some PCPD officers carry stuffed animals, toys, and candy with them. “So when we see these kids on the streets and they wave at me, I stop and talk to them and give them something,” Officer Wise said. “I want them to remember we don’t always show up to arrest people. Whenever they see us we are arresting mom, dad, cousins, brothers, sisters—
and the kids can begin to fear us, so when I do what I do I feel like they might not run from us. They might remember. They might come to me and tell me when something bad is happening. I just don’t want them to always associate us with someone going to jail. Because we are so much more than that. We help people.
APRIL 26
Bye-Pack – Theft
600 block of N Dort St
An officer responded to the above location and met with the complainant who reported sometime between 9:00 p.m. and 6:40 a.m., an unknown subject entered her unlocked vehicle and stole a backpack valued at $60.00.
Phony-Baloney – Counterfeit
2500 block of Thonotosassa Rd
An officer responded to the above location and met with the complainant in reference to discovering a counterfeit $100 bill from the previous day’s business.
This Thing is Broken – Vehicle Burglary 1200 block of Goldfinch Dr
An officer met with the complainant, who advised an unknown person broke the lock on the driver’s door and damaged the ignition of the vehicle.
APRIL 27
Argh You Using That? – Porch Piracy 1500 block of Plantation Grove Ct
An officer made contact with the complainant in reference to the theft of a package. The complainant received notification that her television valued at 298.00 dollars was delivered to her front door, but it was not there when going out to pick it up.
Deadbeat Dad – Warrant Arrest 1200 block of Mendonsa Rd
An officer made contact with a suspect who identified himself by name and date of birth. An NCIC/FCIC check revealed the suspect had an active writ for contempt of court, for failure to pay child support. The warrant was confirmed by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect was transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.
from the secured residence.
Help, Help, Help – Abuse of 911
Alexander St/Police Center Dr
An officer met with the suspect who called Plant City Police Department Dispatch multiple times just to talk. The suspect was advised by officers and Dispatch not to call unless there was a legitimate emergency. The suspect called four additional times and advised he did not care if he went to jail he would not stop calling 911. The suspect was arrested for false/abuse of 911 call and transported to Orient Road Jail.
Out of Order – Disorderly Conduct
N Howard St/W Reynolds St
An officer responded to the above-listed location in reference to a disturbance, Upon arrival he met with a suspect to attempt to conduct a lawful investigation. During this time, the suspect became uncooperative and agitated. He started screaming, using profane language including racial slurs and being belligerent. The suspect was asked numerous times to lower his voice and relax. He was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct at which time he immediately advised he had a hurt ankle and demanded medical treatment. He was transported to SFBH where he continued to be uncooperative with hospital staff and continued using profane and racially abusive language towards them. Once medically cleared, he was transported to Orient Rd Jail.
APRIL 29
Dirty Job – Residential Burglary 2300 block of E Newsome Rd
An officer responded to the above address and met with the complainant who reported sometime between April 25 and April 26, an unknown suspect took a Whirlpool dryer
Slapped Silly – Simple Batter 2700 block of Thonotosassa Rd
An officer responded to the intersection of Victoria Street and North Alexander Street in reference to a delayed simple battery that occurred at the above location. Upon arrival, contact was made with the complainant who advised while at the above location, they got into a verbal altercation and were subsequently struck in the face.
Now Hear This – Business Burglary 700 block of S Collins St
An officer responded to the above-listed location in reference to a delayed burglary complaint. Upon arrival, contact was made with the complainant who advised an enclosed trailer parked behind the business was observed to be unlocked and multiple pieces of sound equipment were missing.
Pane in the Glass – Criminal Mischief 1400 block of E Alabama St
An officer met with the complainant who advised at approximately 5:45 a.m. they heard a loud bang outside. The complainant later noticed the passenger-side rear window was busted out of the vehicle.
Don’t Monkey Around – Theft 1400 block of S Collins St
An officer responded to the above address in reference to the delayed theft of a wrench.
Everywhere There’s Signs – Petit Theft 1800 block of James L Redman Pkwy
An officer met with the complainant who stated an unknown person stole a delivery sign attached to an employee’s vehicle. The sign had a tracker on it pinging at a location. The officer located the sign attached to another vehicle in the parking lot. He made contact with the registered owner of the vehicle and through an investigation learned a suspect admitted taking the sign without the authorization of the business and placing it on his friend’s vehicle as a prank. The suspect was remorseful for his actions and met the criteria for an APAD for the charge of petit theft.
Tag, You’re It – Stolen Tag 600 block of E Dr. MLK Blvd
An officer met with the complainant, who advised he sold his vehicle to an individual he met through Facebook where he posted the vehicle for sale. The subject paid cash for the vehicle and took possession of it on April 5. On April 6, the complainant realized he left his tag attached to the vehicle and messaged the buyer about returning the tag. The subject has since blocked the complainant and has not returned the tag. Complainant received a toll bill for $35.00 for the vehicle/ tag being used at various tolls. The tag was entered into NCIC/FCIC as stolen as the victim has made repeated requests to return the tag which the suspect initially acknowledged but has failed to do.
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“Richard Mills brings a wealth of municipal law enforcement leadership experience, including command of a large division comprising numerous specialty units and operations,” said McDaniel. “He also is familiar with the law enforcement community of the greater Tampa Bay region, and those contacts will be invaluable in his role as our next Chief of Police.”
“I am humbled by my selection, and I look forward to continuing my life of public service as the Police Chief of the Plant City Police Department,” Mills said. “My primary goal will be to make sure the Plant City Police Department continues to be viewed by the community as an agency of excellence, innovation, and community partnership. With a focus on cops, community, and collaboration, we will unite to ensure Plant City remains safe, vibrant, and inclusive for all residents.”
“Rich Mills is a true leader born with the heart of a public servant. His dedication to community policing has been instrumental in fostering positive relationships between officers and residents for decades. He is an outstanding selection to lead the men and women of the Plant City Police Department as Chief of Police, and I am certain the entire Plant City community he will
soon take oath to protect and serve will appreciate his contributions as much as those in the City of Tampa. Knowing that he developed many current leaders who will carry on his legacy of commitment to ensuring the safety of others is a gift he leaves with the Tampa Police Department as he begins his next chapter. The entire Tampa Police Department wishes him well and we know he will make as positive an impact on Plant City as he has on the City of Tampa,” Chief Lee Bercaw, Tampa Police Department.
In addition, something has been brewing that is just as significant as bringing on a new police chief. Plant City management has also been working on restructuring the PCPD. McDaniel said he took advantage of the high quality of the candidates to hire two of the other finalists to take roles in PCPD. Justin Duralia, currently Supervisory Special Agent, Drug Enforcement Administration, Tampa; and Joseph Centanni, Chief of Police, City of Watervliet, NY, will assume positions as Deputy Chiefs—roles that are new within PCPD.
“For the Deputy Chiefs I based my selection on a combination of experience, leadership, and knowledge of law enforcement—plus particular skill sets that I
thought they could bring to the table that would help us enhance our operations within the department and be a service to the community,” said McDaniel. “Adding the two Deputy Chief positions enhances the leadership and operational capabilities of our police department.”
Justin Duralia has over 20 years of experience handling investigations and major cases. Joseph Centanni brings extensive experience in municipal policing, leadership, policy development, and other skills that will be valuable to PCPD. Clearly continued growth is in Plant City’s future and city services will need to keep up. “Our police department is going to grow,” added McDaniel. “I am convinced that it needs to grow not only quantitatively in the number of personnel, but it needs to grow qualitatively as well. In my view, what I have done here accelerates the qualitative growth of our department by about 10 years. I believe infusing this new leadership structure will only increase the horsepower behind the Departments’ ability to meet the coming demands and continue to provide excellent service to the community.”
McDaniel offered to the community an opportunity to meet and greet the candidates on Thursday, April 25, so Plant Citians could have input into the process. In the informal setting, those who attended could have conversations with the candidates and fill out comment cards to offer their observations of the candidates. “I found the shared impressions people were willing to provide to be very valuable and they certainly went into my deliberations,” commented McDaniel. “This is a process I like and I see a great deal of benefit from it. I will continue to use that tool in future selections where it is applicable.”
Chief Bradford has agreed to extend his tenure until July 8 to make for a smooth
transition. He will work on a handoff plan and will be in communication with Mills between now and July 8 to make sure Mills is up to speed on the things he needs to know as the incoming chief. “I will also take this opportunity to thank and commend Chief Bradford for his service to date,” said City Manager McDaniel. “He has led our department well and I think that we have an opportunity for a very successful change of command within the police department.”
that are physically difficult and demanding. Alvarez first operated a spreader, AKA the “Jaws of Life,” to pry open the door of an SUV. Then he used a cutter to remove a door.
On Wednesday, May 1, Danny Alverez, State Representative for District 69 came to Plant City. “We’re out here today doing a ride along with Plant City Fire Rescue,” said Alverez. “This is something that I like to do when it comes to being a state rep—understanding what is going on at the ground level because my priorities are always: first, public safety and then veterans. Plant City Fire Rescue is one of our premier agencies in the county and they asked me to come to take a look. I’m proud to be here and proud to be with these men and women.”
“Today we’re showing things that we do on a normal basis,” Battalion Chief Chris Rodriguez told us. “We are going to pull the doors off and extricate victims, giving Congressman Alvarez an option to get hands on and feel what it takes to do the job. This is this is the first time we’ve had him here.”
This training with Fire Rescue A-Shift allowed Congressman Alvarez to experience the weight of the extraction equipment, the strength, and the skill it takes to handle the tools. Each piece of equipment weighs more than 60 pounds and has to be held in various positions
Plant City Fire Rescue trains on extra skills like these no less than twice a month.
For training like this one that requires the use of vehicles, Brewington’s Towing & Recovery provides them to Fire Rescue. “This is part of my community service— letting them train and get prepared for when they go out on an actual scene,” said David Brewington, owner of the company.” Brewington’s is a large business in Plant City that has more than 20 tow trucks operating on a daily basis.
“Historically, we had gas-powered hydraulic spreader and cutter tools that had to be manually set up,” said Rodriguez. The gas machine had to be cranked up, and the hoses had to be connected to the tools.” The units A-Shift used this day were self-contained hydraulic battery-powered tools. “They’re very quickly deployed as soon as our people get out of the truck.”
Operating from three fire stations, Plant City Fire Rescue is responsible for 28 square miles. The department has two Advanced Life Support (ALS) engines and one ALS 77-foot aerial ladder truck, two ALS ambulances
and one battalion chief vehicle. They respond to an average of 20 calls every day.
The department has 48 firefighters and paramedics. All of the firefighters also need to be trained as paramedics within three years of being hired. The department handles fire suppression and emergency medical services, and other emergencies that threaten lives and property. Crews work 24-hour shifts at each station and are ready day or night to respond at a moment’s notice. One of three Battalion Chief manages each of the three shifts and the sixteen people on duty.
and the revitalization of downtown Plant City. “That means bringing people downtown,” said Hyatt.
On Thursday, May 2, Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd made an appearance in Plant City. If you are asking yourself, “What does the Florida Secretary of State do?” Here it is: The position is the custodian of Florida law, the chief election officer, the chief arts and culture officer, the state protocol officer and, of course, the head of the Department of State. The office ensures fair elections, investigates election fraud, administers business filings, handles Florida’s relations with foreign governments doing business in Florida, and oversees historical and artistic resources, among other things. In the organizational chart of Florida government, the Secretary of State reports to the Governor and Lt. Governor.
“Secretary Byrd is one of the most priceless pieces to the puzzle for everything happening for our downtown and for grants,” said Dawn Hyatt, Executive Director of Historic Downtown Plant City Main Street. “He is a huge advocate and we are blessed he was able to take the time out of his busy schedule to come down and let us show him around our downtown. It’s a real honor to have him here.”
The Secretary of State visited at the invitation of Hyatt. Her organization’s main mission is stimulating economic vitality
“We’re really excited to have the Secretary of State here to highlight what we have done so far,” said Cody Lenz, co-owner of Three Hands Mead Company, and a Board Member of Plant City Main Street. When asked about the benefits of the Cord Byrd visit, Lenz added, “We are getting exposure beyond the local area. Exposure from anybody is a huge help, but having him from the state government here in Plant City will really help expose our downtown to the rest of the state.”
Secretary of State Byrd, who gave Plant City Main Street three awards in 2023, came to meet with merchants and hear about their businesses. “He is a fantastic advocate and we really wanted the opportunity to show off how wonderful our downtown is here in Plant City,” said Hyatt. Secretary of State Byrd took keen interest in what these businesses offer, what made them decide to locate downtown, and how things are working for them. The threehour tour took Byrd to Propagation, Krazy Kup, The Crafted Butterfly, Mr. Seba’s, Three Hands Mead, State Theatre, and Spirit Art Gallery. This gave Byrd about 20 minutes of discussion with each business owner.
“I was very pleased that he would come to Plant City and meet with us,” commented Wenda Trunzo,” owner of Krazy Kup. Trunzo offered to the secretary her thoughts about what is needed to grow the historic downtown. She appreciated Byrd’s engagement with her. “It was very, very nice to meet him,” she commented. When asked about his reaction to being in Downtown Plant City, Byrd said, “I’m really impressed with what this is doing for business owners who are taking the past and bringing it into the future, and creating new businesses and really fostering a sense of community. It is great for me as Secretary of State to get out and visit these communities so that I can take that message back to Tallahassee and tell the stories of the business owners and the people in the community. So it’s more than just numbers on a spreadsheet-- it’s real people, real stories and doing this it is really good for Florida.” Byrd’s aim is that the state will continue to fund Main Street programs.
Historic Downtown Plant City Main Street is an entity that operates using a four-point approach that is a time-tested framework for community-driven, comprehensive historic downtown revitalization. The framework is:
Design: Supports a community’s transformation by enhancing the physical and visual assets that set the commercial district apart.
Economic Vitality: Focuses on capital, incentives, and other economic and financial tools to assist new and existing businesses, catalyze property development, and create a supportive environment of entrepreneurs and innovators that drive local economies.
Promotion: Positions the downtown commercial district as the center of the community and hub of economic activity, while creating a positive image that showcases a community’s unique characteristics.
Organization: Involves creating a strong foundation for a sustainable revitalization effort, including cultivating partnerships, community involvement and resources for the district,
The organization offers memberships that include promotion and networking. The local Plant City office is accredited through National Main Street America.
Do you want Plant City to see how cute your favorite pets are? Send your pictures to Sarah Holt at sholt@plantcityobserver.com to be featured.
DIEGO: Diego is a 4-year-old baby who’s been with Karla Morales for most of his life. He is a rescue mixed breed pitty. Diego loves going on hikes at local Plant City trails and enjoys working with Morales’ father while he mows the lawn.
On April 16 at about 9:25 a.m., the Plant City Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security Tampa acted on a search warrant for a house in Plant City across the street from Wilson Elementary School.
Wilson Elementary School sits in a good neighborhood with hard-working, salt-of-theearth homeowners who are surprised something like this could happen there. Residents of the neighborhood were hesitant to discuss the situation and spoke only on the condition of anonymity.
One person who was near the scene at the time of the raid gave an account. “All of a sudden I heard a loud speaker and the man said, ‘Come out the front door with your hands up! Anyone who’s in this house come outside right now with your hands up!’ He repeated that three, four, five times. There were many, many police vehicles down the road and lots of officers. Police were outside of the house pointing their guns at the house. When the police announcement stopped, at the same time I heard the intercom at the school come on. On the intercom the person said to all the teachers they were going to lock in. There were also officers walking around the school like they were added security. About that time I heard a loud boom and smoke started coming out of the house. I figured well, maybe that was to get them out. After that things got kind of quiet.”
Wilson Elementary School initiated a lock in rather than a lock down. In a lock in, students stay in place. In a lock down, students move to different areas to shelter. “We were notified law enforcement would be serving an arrest warrant in the area and additional school Guardians were in place,” Kayla Forcucci, Principal of Wilson Elementary School said. “There was good communication between officers and our Guardians. Our safety was never in jeopardy. All of the students fell into line doing what they have been trained to do in drills. I
am super proud of them.” The lock in ended at 9:51 a.m.
The law enforcement action came about after Customs and Border Protection flagged a package from China that contained toy cars that disguised 63 glock switch parts that are enough to make 21 glock switches. These switches are used to convert a semi-automatic (when the trigger is pulled once the firearm shoots one bullet) handgun, to fully automatic (when the trigger is pulled once the firearm shoots many bullets). Possessing these devices is illegal. The package was addressed to a Plant City apartment which police say is connected to Philip Valeriani, a resident of the house law enforcement raided. They suspect him of importing, making, and distributing those glock switches.
Residents noted that in the last two years there has been police activity at the house, in most cases very late at night. In May 2023, PCPD seized a 3D printer from Valeriani that detectives believe he was using to make these glock switches. After the seizure, in a change from normal, 55 packages from overseas came to Valeriani. Residents also observed the house has recently been under law enforcement surveillance. As of the last information released by Homeland Security, no glock switches were found in the house.
However, law enforcement did find a machine gun, gun parts, drugs, a bullet proof vest, a Drug Enforcement Administration raid jacket and a Customs and Border Protection raid jacket. Law enforcement arrested Valeriani who is facing charges including possession of a machine gun and drug trafficking.
“I’m not sure what’s going on,” a witness said. “The next day they had a lot of goings on in the house. People were coming and going throughout the day. By the end of the day there was a lot of furniture and belongings in the front of the house out to the roadside. And someone put a new roof on the house the very next day.”
The suspect died on the scene.
Did you take the Observer with you on vacation? Send your pictures to Associate Editor Michelle Caceres at michelle@plantcityobserver.com to be featured.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is investigating a shooting on Tuesday, May 7, involving Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
At 2:40 a.m., deputies responded to the 2900 block of Frontage Drive in Plant City. A 911 caller from the location reported that an unknown person was banging on the windows and threatening to kill the people inside.
According to Hillsborough County Sheriff, Chad Chronister, the location of the shooting is a worship center at which pastors live.
Upon arrival, deputies came in contact with an erratic suspect. The body-worn camera shows the individual pacing a wrought-iron fence, and groaning and growling at deputies. Chronister reported the person mimicked a gorilla in the way he walked.
Deputies noted the suspect had a sharp object, which proved to be a railroad spike, and immediately tried to de-escalate the situation, telling him to drop the object, but he refused.
As deputies urged the individual to drop the object, the suspect became more aggressive, kicking open a fence and lunging toward deputies. Deputies continued their de-escalation efforts by establishing a safe distance. As the individual continued his aggressive approach, deputies deployed the BolaWrap, a tool used to immobilize a person by wrapping them with a Kevlar cord. Deputies also deployed a TASER in yet another attempt to stop him.
The less-lethal options were ineffective as the individual charged at deputies. Ultimately, the suspect backed them against the wall separating the frontage road from Interstate 4, and deputies were forced to fire their service weapons. Immediately after, deputies initiated lifesaving efforts.
“Our deputies showed extraordinary professionalism and exhausted every less lethal option to preserve life before this fatal outcome,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Their actions today serve as a reflection of the extensive training our deputies undergo and is a testament to the tools they have available to serve and protect the community.”
The HCSO deputies involved in this incident were:
• Deputy Robert Sanchez, 43 17 years of service
• Deputy Jacob St. John, 27 Ten months of service
Neither of the deputies involved have any prior uses of deadly force.
As FDLE investigates the incident, the deputies involved will be placed on administrative leave.
Chloe Shinneman is a senior at Plant City High School and just recently made the University of Florida Gators cheerleading team.
Join us as we interview her and all her recent news!
What is your favorite memory you have from cheer?
My favorite memory I have from cheer would have to be winning states my sophomore year.
What makes the sport so special to you?
The camaraderie and teamwork involved in cheerleading make it special to me. It's not just about individual performance but about supporting and lifting each other up as a team.
How long have you been cheerleading?
I’ve been consistently cheerleading for six years. There was a brief introduction to cheer when I was really young. I moved on to try other sports and realized how much I loved cheer.
How was your experience at college tryouts?
The college tryouts were intense but exciting. It was a great opportunity to showcase my training and meet new people.
Who or what inspired you the most to try out for college cheer?
My cheer coaches and the college cheerleaders I looked up to inspired me to try out for college cheer. Their dedication and passion for the sport motivated me to pursue it at the next level.
How do you stay trained? How did you prepare for college tryouts?
I stay trained by practicing regularly, attending camps, and focusing on my endurance. Leading up to college tryouts, I worked even harder by spending time at the gym working one-on-one to improve my tumbling, which was important coming from a nontumbling team.
What are you going to miss the most about high school? I'll miss the close bonds I've formed with my high school teammates and the excitement of representing my school at competitions and games.
What advice would you give to a little kid who wants to join a cheer team for the first time? I would advise them to work hard, stay positive, and always support their teammates. Cheerleading is about teamwork and perseverance, so never give up and always strive to improve.
What’s your go-to “hype song” to get you ready for a cheer competition or game day? Some of my go-to hype songs are "Unwritten" by Natasha Benningfeild, "Run This Town" by JAY-Z, and "Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. These songs always get me pumped up and ready to perform.
first baseman in time. Jackson McClellan popped up to center field and the score remained 0-0.
Mobley grounded out to the Newsome third baseman to end the inning, with the score sitting at 0-0.
Blaine Rowland drew the start at pitcher for the Cougars in this game. The lead-off batter for Newsome popped out to the center fielder Devin Suero. The second batter popped up to the left fielder Tyler Macpherson. For the third out, Rowland got his first strike out of the game.
Nick April-Gath led off for the Cougars and popped out to center field on his first at bat. Rowland grounded out to the first baseman for the second out of the inning. Noah Morales also grounded out to first to end the inning. Both teams were looking for their first hits of the game as they went to the second inning.
Rowland struck out the first batter of the second inning, his second in a row. The first base runner of the game was the second batter of the inning for Newsome as he was hit by Rowland. The third batter of the inning for Newsome hit it foul but it was tracked down on an amazing effort by Jackson McClellan to get the second out. Rowland got his third strikeout of the game, which left a Newsome runner on second.
Chase Mobley led off for the Cougars in the bottom of the second and flew out to left field. Brantley Hayward struck out on a good at bat, really making the Newsome pitcher work for the out. Tyler Macpherson struck out but reached first as the catcher dropped it and could not get it to the
Rowland struck out his fourth batter of the game to kick off the top of the third inning. The second batter of the inning grounded out to April-Gath for the second out of the inning. Rowland walked the third batter of the inning, which was Newsome’s second man on base at this point in the game. Rowland finished the inning with his fifth strikeout of the game.
Brady Kelly struck out in the bottom of the third for the first out. Suero grounded out to 2nd on the first pitch of the at bat. April-Gath was back up and he hit it nicely down the middle, but the Newsome second baseman made a great play to get the out to end the inning.
Rowland was still on the mound to start the fourth inning. The lead-off Newsome batter popped up foul to the first baseman Pete Oderio for the out. Rowland walked the second batter of the inning. The third batter of the inning grounded into a force out to the third baseman Jackson McClellan, who got the runner out on second. The top of the fourth ended with a Newsome batter hitting it right to Rowland for an easy scoop throw to Oderio for the third out.
Rowland led off for the Cougars in the bottom of the fourth and hit it to the Newsome third baseman for the first out. Morales struck out on his second at bat of the game for the second out of the inning.
Rowland started the top of the fifth inning, striking out the lead off Newsome batter, for his 6th strikeout of the game. Rowland walked the second batter of the inning but rebounded nicely, as Newsome grounded into a double play.
Hayward and Tyler both flew out to right field for the first two outs of the inning. McClellan hit it up the middle and reached first base safely due to a bad throw from the second baseman, but McClellan was out advancing to second to end the inning with the score still 0-0.
The top of the sixth started off well for Newsome as they got a lead off single. The second batter for Newsome swung on the first pitch and got a single that went right over second baseman Brady Kelly’s head. There were 2 on, and no outs for Newsome. Just like the lead off batter, Newsome got another single off soft contact to third which loaded the bases with no outs. Newsome got their fourth single in a row, which resulted in the first run of the game being scored. The next batter hit a sacrifice fly to left field getting out, but scored another run for Newsome on the tag out. Rowland caught a hard hit ball from the following batter and threw the runner out on second before he could tag out. Newsome scored two runs in the sixth.
Kelly and Suero both grounded out to the Newsome shortstop for the first two
outs of the inning. April-Gath flew out to left field for the third out.
In the top of the seventh, the Cougars were trailing 2-0 and Gehrig Graham entered the game to pitch for Durant. Graham struck out the leadoff Newsome hitter on a full count for the first out. The second Newsome batter grounded out to Kelly for the second out of the inning. Graham got a 3 up, 3 down on Newsome as their third batter flew out to the right fielder Chase Mobley.
Rowland led off for Durant in the bottom of the seventh and struck out on a full count. Morales struck out as well for the second out. Mobley kept the game alive with a nice hit that went over the second baseman’s head. Hayward followed up with a single of his own, a ball that bounced over the third baseman’s head. Tristan Brown came in as a pinch hitter for Durant. Before he got a chance to bat, Newsome brought in a new pitcher. A wild pitch advanced both runners to second and third. Newsome ended up getting the out and winning the game 2-0.
When asked about preparations for the next game against Palm Harbor, Coach Valdez said, “We are working out some of the kinks but what we’ve been doing has worked for the most part. We tipped our hats to Newsome and now Palm Harbor gets the revenge game.
Durant lost to Palm Harbor 6-0 in a tough game. Congratulations to Durant on a 21-5 season!
“LOVE
OUR INTEREST RATE, BUT THIS HOUSE DOESN’T FIT OUR NEEDS ANYMORE.”
Lifestyle changes are probably the highest motivation for considering any new real estate transaction. People worry about finding their next home, or rates remaining high. But there’s a price consequence to waiting. Today is the day to start the process. Sellers pay a price for waiting: the risk of an unexpected repair, increased competition from new construction homes, and increased competition from additional sellers listing their homes. Buyers pay a price for waiting: the median home prices are expected to rise in 2024, average renters pay a substantial portion of their income towards rent all while losing out on building equity and many buyers said they won’t wait for rates to drop, increasing buyer pool and competition for available homes.
The truth is, the real estate transaction will become even more important to have representation by a qualified Realtor®, experienced in the ever-changing market.
As we look at the Plant City housing data, April 2024, our market area had 125 homes sell, 245 under contract and 261 available for sale. One data point that has been increasing each month has been the units sold. We are up 35% year-to-date, compared to last year. New construction has contributed more than 50% of the units sold. We are carrying about 2.8 month’s supply housing inventory, a 12% increase over last month’s supply.
In April 2024, the average sold price was $381,723, or an average price per SF of $199.42 compared to the previous month, these data points are up 5.4% and flat respectively. New construction homes accounted for 70 units last month at an aver-
age price per SF of $179.07 discounted almost 20% compared to other sellers in the market. Looking at another perspective of the data, if you are planning to list and sell your home, you stand to gain 15-20% more than the new construction models.
The prevailing mortgage rates from Freddie Mac for the average 30-year-term loans have continued to inch higher the past few weeks. Your individual rate will depend on many parameters, like income, debt, credit score, etc. While we finished the year at 6.61%, the latest 4-week average was 7.09% and on an upward trend. At the last Fed meeting, the potential rate hike was tabled and decided to hold rates. So, what about the coming months? People will be buying and selling homes, prices are slightly increasing. We are progressing into the spring/summer buying season, typically we have the strongest buying demand during this time, with inventories low and the current lending rates the new norm. The supply-demand models will dictate the new market levels.
I cannot express enough this importance, if you are in the market to buy or sell your home, please seek an experienced professional Realtor® to assist you in this transaction process. There are too many consequences, going it alone without proper experienced representation. Get the real scoop on our market. If you have any questions, want a market value analysis of your home, or see what's available to purchase, please reach out.
M Crawford Crawford GroupThe following residential properties were a sample listed as sold on the Greater Tampa Realtors Association MLS in April 2023 for the Plant City Market Area.
The home at 2302 Maki Rd Unit 47 sold April 22 for $158,000. Built in 1987, it has 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bath and 896 square feet of living area.
The home at 4660 W Eastwind Dr sold April 17 for $255,000. Built in 1986 it has 2 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1038 square feet of living area.
The home at 304 Eunice Dr sold April 26 for $275,000. Built in 1966 it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1104 square feet of living area.
The home at 1506 N Bruton St sold April 1 for $299,900. Built in 1949, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1313 square feet of living area.
The home at 1312 N Franklin St sold April 29 for $315,000. Built in 2003, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1265 square feet of living area.
The home at 3108 Azalea Blossom Dr sold April 8 for $345,000. Built in 2007, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1730 square feet of living area.
The home at 3620 Natural Trace St sold April 8 for $377,600. Built in 2024, it has 4 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1936 square feet of living area.
The home at 5453 Smith Ryals Rd sold April 22 for $400,000. Built in 1980, it has 2 bedrooms, 1 bath and 924 square feet of living area.
The home 2506 S Golfview Dr sold April 12 for $415,000. Built in 1986, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1660 square feet of living area.
The home at 3207 Thackery Way sold April 5 for $430,000. Built in 1989, it has 4 bedrooms, 2 bath and 2175 square feet of living area.
The home at 3202 E Williams Rd sold April 23 for $450,000. Built in 1999, it has 2 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1134 square feet of living area.
The home at 5309 Varn Rd sold April 22 for $500,000. Built in 1998, it has 4 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1934 square feet of living area.
The home at 1922 Berry Rd sold April 23 for $549,900. Built in 2017, it has 4 bedrooms, 3 bath and 2304 square feet of living area.
The home at 3018 Forest Hammock Dr sold April 30 for $699,000. Built in 2000, it has 4 bedrooms, 3 bath and 2661 square feet of living area.
The home at 1748 Joe McIntosh Rd sold April 10 for $750,000. Built in 2008, it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bath and 2534 square feet of living area.
The home at 10629 Paul Buchman Hwy sold April 17 for $960,000. Built in 1960, it has 5 bedrooms, 4 bath and 3008 square feet of living area.
We asked Plant City: How do you plan to celebrate Mother’s Day?
Sleeping. Jude Mikalinis
Recovering from surgery
Sarah Tickel VanCamp
Quietly
Angel Carter
Recovering from knee replacement. Cheryl Colson Owen
Thinking of my mother on the second Mother’s Day without her Ruth Potter
Alejandro C. Colon
Alejandro C. Colon, 70, of Brandon, Fla., born on Sept. 5, 1953, in Manati, Puerto Rico, entered into eternal rest on May 6, 2024. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.
HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM
Sandie Gardner
Sandie Gardner, 78, of Plant City, Fla., born in Wimbledon, England on July 10, 1945, entered into eternal rest on May 1, 2024. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM
Gayle Y. Porter
Gayle Y. Porter, 88, of Plant City, Fla., born on Apr. 5, 1936, in Bloomingdale, entered into eternal rest on Apr. 30, 2024. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral. com.
HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM
Nancy Jane Raburn
Nancy Jane Raburn, 54, of Plant City, Fla., born on Aug. 13, 1969, in Sanford, Fla., entered into eternal rest on Apr. 29, 2024. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral. com.
HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM
Donaldson, Marianne, 73, passed away peacefully in her home Apr. 29, 2024. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral. com.
HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM
Brenda Carol Inlow passed away peacefully on May 1, 2024, in Plant City, Fla. Brenda’s life was a testament to her generous spirit and her dedication to her family, her church, and her community. A graveside service was held May 6, 2024, at Geiger Cemetery, 5379 Geiger Cemetery Rd, Zephyrhills, FL 33541. Online condolences can be made at www.haught. care.
HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM
OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES
BEST BET
FRIDAY, MAY 10
IMPROV NIGHT
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Krazy Kup, 101 East J Arden Mays Boulevard
A hilarious night of INTERACTIVE, side-splitting comedy with Nate & Darren, Two Krazy guys . Good Old Fashioned Comedy! Family Fun for All! FREE!
FRIDAY, MAY 10
BOOKMARKED: TEEN BOOK CLUB
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Bruton Memorial Library
302 McLendon St
Teen Program: Stop by our Teen Book Club at the library! We will be discussing "What the River Knows" by Isabel Ibañez. Pick up your copy at the library or check it out digitally. Ages 13-17.
SATURDAY, MAY 11
OPEN MIC
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Krazy Kup, 101 East J Arden Mays Boulevard Open Mic Night at Krazy Kup is a KRAZY FUN night, where you get to be the show!!!! Come out, strut your stuff and show us what you got!
Performers must be 13 and up.
PRINCES, PRINCESSES, AND PONIES
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Little Paws Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc.
3201 East Williams Road
Join us for an “enchanted” fundraiser to benefit Little Paws Animal Rescue and Sanctuary (501 3c). Professional photos with horses are available by pre-paid booking in the link below. Other activities include animal picture ops, petting zoo, crafts, snacks and snow cones, lawn games and more! Delanies’s Lemonade Stand will also be there! Come on out for
some “magical” fun and support your local rescue. You may attend the event without purchasing professional pics, however, you must book a time slot prior for professional pictures: https://calendly.com/phoenix.../princeprincess-on-ponies...
Each 10-minute session is a $50 donation. You may book multiple sessions if you want more pics or have more than one subject. Photo amounts may vary and will be delivered digitally. Email littlepawsanimalsanctuary@gmail. com for questions.
MONDAY, MAY 13
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
7:30 p.m.
City Hall, 302 W. Reynolds Street
Residents are invited and encouraged to participate in public City meetings to ensure that their voice is heard and they are up-to-date on the things happening in the community. Residents can make public comments during meetings and attend meetings for the City Commission, Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, Historic Resources Board and more.
THURSDAY, MAY 16
CRAFTING WITH JESSICA
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Bruton Memorial Library 302 McLendon St Join guest host Jessica Smith for crafting.
FRIDAY, MAY 17
MEGA ADOPTION EVENT
May 17-19
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds Grimes Family Agricultural Center 2508 W. Oak Ave
Nine different shelters from across Florida will have dogs available for adoption. All pups will be vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and microchipped. To make it even easier to bring home a new buddy, all adoption fees will be waived.
SATURDAY, MAY 18
UNIQUE BOUTIQUE AT THE CREEK
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The First Annual Market at Turkey Creek Middle School. There will be food trucks and various vendors from Plant City and the surrounding communities. Free admission.
PLANT CITY STRAWABERRY CLASSIC CRUISE-IN
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 102 N. Palmer St.
The Plant City Strawberry Classic CruiseIn is back on Sat., May 18, rain or shine. Register your cars and trucks of all makes, models and years for free starting at 3:00 p.m. Free show with Award of Excellence trophies. Live music by DJ John Paul Gasca.
MCINTOSH PRESERVE SPRING FLOWERS HIKE
10:00 a.m.
Embark on a hike with park staff to enjoy the vibrant spring floral wonders of McIntosh Preserve. Registration is required for this free guided hike. Check out the Plant City Parks & recreation Visit https://forms. plantcitygov.com/240865913586872 to register for the event.
SATURDAY, MAY 25
BLUEGRASS NIGHT WITH JUSTIN MASON & BLUE NIGHT
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Krazy Kup, 101 East J Arden Mays Boulevard
A group of musicians who truly love Bluegrass and Entertaining. Traditional Favorites, heartfelt originals...when they take the stage it is all Justin Mason & Blue Night! Join us in the loft at Krazy Kup to enjoy the sweet sounds of Bluegrass Music!
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THURSDAY, MAY 9
High: 94 Low: 76
Chance of rain: 9%
FRIDAY, MAY 10
High: 92
Low: 72
Chance of rain: 9%
SATURDAY, MAY 11
High: 93
Low: 64
Chance of rain: 16%
SUNDAY, MAY 12
High: 92
Low: 70
Chance of rain: 4%
MONDAY, MAY 13
High: 94 Low: 73
Chance
Shipping point:
$12.00-$14.00
Source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
