Winter Haven Police arrested two teens at Winter Haven High School Friday and a third early Friday morning in connection with a stolen vehicle and numerous vehicle burglaries.

  • One suspect located shortly after stolen car recovered
  • One of the 2 suspects attempted to flee from police at school
  • All 3 suspects had prior felony charges

Officials said one of the two suspects taken into custody at the school attempted to flee when officers encountered him in a classroom. He kicked, elbowed and attempted to bite an officer, causing the two to fall to the ground. The officer did not suffer significant injury.

(We are not naming any of the three teens arrested due to their age, in accordance with our Crime Guidelines.)

Upon taking this suspect into custody, officers found he was carrying a handgun reported stolen in one of the vehicle burglaries the suspect was connected with.

Officers interviewed the second suspect and took him into custody without incident.

The third suspect was arrested sometime after 2:15 a.m. in a field near where the three suspects crashed the car they'd stolen earlier in the evening. The suspect was apparently attempted to dispose of items stolen in previous burglaries.

Among the items recovered in the field upon the suspect's arrest was a loaded handgun confirmed to have been stolen in one of the earlier burglaries.

The stolen vehicle, a red Dodge Magnum, was stolen from Lyndsey Lane in the Savannah Estates subdivision. Investigators said the earlier vehicle burglaries the suspects are connected to also took place on Lyndsey Lane.

The suspect who resisted arrest at Winter Haven High School was charged with 19 felonies, including:

  • Attempted Burglary (Conveyance) x 8
  • Burglary (Conveyance)
  • Grand Theft Auto
  • Armed Burglary (Conveyance) x 2
  • Grand Theft Firearm x2
  • Possession of firearm by adjudicated delinquent
  • Battery on Law Enforcement Officer
  • Resisting w/Violence
  • Carry Concealed Firearm
  • Possession of firearm on school property

The second suspect arrested at the school faces 15 felonies, including:

  • Attempted Burglary (Conveyance) x 8
  • Burglary (Conveyance)
  • Grand Theft Auto x 2
  • Armed Burglary (Conveyance) x 2
  • Grand Theft Firearm x 2

The suspect arrested early Friday also faces 19 felony charges, including:

  • Armed Burglary Conveyance x 2
  • Grand Theft Firearm x 2
  • Grand Theft Auto
  • Armed Trespassing
  • Possession of Burglary Tools
  • Possession of firearm by adjudicated delinquent
  • Attempted Burglary x 8
  • Burglary (Conveyance)
  • Tampering w/ Evidence
  • Violation of Probation