-
Recovered gun
Osceola County deputies arrested a Poinciana High School student on Tuesday after bringing a gun to class.
The student was identified as Michael Jesus German-Espinal, 15, and deputies recovered the firearm after making contact with him.
According to an Osceola County Sheriff’s Office report, at about 8:15 a.m., German-Espinal allegedly displayed the firearm to another student inside the boys’ locker room. The incident was quickly reported to the school resource officer.
It was determined that German-Espinal was not in his assigned classroom, and the school was placed on lockdown for the safety of all students and staff. Sheriff’s Office patrol, criminal investigations and special operations units responded, and assisted with a search of the entire school and perimeter in the immediate area.
At approximately 10:15 a.m. deputies located the German-Espinal in a common area of the Waterview Subdivision, located across the street from the high school.
The firearm was loaded and was confirmed to be stolen out of Polk County.
German-Espinal was charged with possession of firearm on school property, possession of firearm bya minor, tampering with evidence and interfering with education process.
“Sheriff Russ Gibson and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Osceola County School District and the Poinciana High School Staff for their commitment to the safety of our children,” said Maj. Jacob Ruiz in a press release. “We would like to thank the amazing students who reported this incident immediately and to the parents and community affected. Working together, we will make our schools and safer.”
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at 407-348-2222 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477, where information leading to a felony arrest may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
Two suspects arrested in robberies at Poinciana bank
Osceola deputies arrested two men wanted for robberies at a Poinciana bank.
According to an Osceola County sheriff’s Office report, on Feb. 3 and Jan. 29, detectives responded to the Bank of America located at 35 S. Doverplum Ave„ Kissimmee, to two ATM robberies. In both robberies, the victims were robbed at the ATM machine and were driven out of the area by the suspects.
Through investigative leads, robbery detectives were able to identify both juvenile suspects as Victor Jahniel Velazquez and Tazwell Degaberto Berrios.
Detectives were able to arrest Velazquez, who cooperated with detectives. During the investigation, detectives learned that Berrios fled to Philadelphia.
On Feb. 28, Philadelphia Police Department and Osceola County Sheriff’s Office detectives successfully located and arrested Berrios in Philadelphia.
Both suspects were charged with armed robbery with a firearm, armed carjacking, armed kidnapping, and petit theft.
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at 407-348-2222.
Man fires gun at off-duty officer in St. Cloud, gets shot
An off-duty Orlando police officer shot a man at his St. Cloud home several times on Sunday after the suspect fired a gun at him.
According to a St. Cloud Police Department report, Orlando Police Officer Julian Ortiz, who was off duty, was hosting a house gathering at his home in the Tohoqua subdivision and invited some guests over. One guest brought the male suspect with them to Ortiz’s house.
At some point, the male suspect was told he was no longer welcome at the house and was told to leave. He left Ortiz’s house, but returned a short time later, and attempted to enter the house by kicking in the front door, the report stated.
When Ortiz went outside, the suspect, who was brandishing a firearm, met him.
He fired the gun at Ortiz, prompting the police officer to return fire, striking the suspect several times. The suspect was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
Ortiz, nor anybody inside of the house, were struck by gunfire.
Criminal charges are pending against the suspect, who was not identified in a St. Cloud Police Department press release. Ortiz’s actions remain under review.
The St. Cloud Police Department is working the investigation with the State Attorney’s Office.
Investigation has revealed no known relationship between the two individuals in this incident.
Seven people arrested for selling alcohol to minors, after hours
Seven people were arrested by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office for either selling alcohol to minors at bars, selling after hours, or both at hookah bars.
The individuals arrested were: Jesus Quezada-Echeverria, Deisy Gutierrez-Escalona, Jessinelle Lopez, John Doe, Jonathan Cruz, Sergio Amador, Jonathan Cruz Sergio and Amador Oscar Melendez-Herrera.
During the evening and early morning hours from Feb. 21-23, members of the Sheriff’s Office Tactical Narcotics Team and the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT), conducted an operation targeting the selling of alcohol to people under 21 and the sale after hours at several hookah bars and lounges located on the west side of Osceola County.
Hookah bars are commercial establishments where people gather to smoke flavored tobacco from a hookah pipe.. This operation was initiated by multiple residential complaints as well as recent violent crimes occurring at some of these locations, according to a Sheriff’s Office press release.
The suspects arrested might face additional fines from ABT.
“The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office is committed to increasing the safety of our community and holding persons accountable or contributing to delinquency and criminal activity,” said Maj. Jacob Ruiz is a press release.
Anyone with information related to similar incidents is asked to contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at 407-348-2222 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477, where information leading to a felony arrest may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
