News and Investigations

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Homicide detectives, working with the Miami-Dade Police Department, with the assistance of the Miami Police Department have arrested:

35-year-old Andrew Joseph of Miami.  Joseph is charged with First Degree Murder (three counts), Attempted First Degree Murder, Accessory After the Fact of Capital Felony, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, and Tampering in Felony Life Capital Proceeding.  Joseph was arrested on January 11, 2016 and was originally booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, 7000 NW 41 Street, in Miami.  Joseph will be transported to Polk County and booked into the Polk County jail to be held on no bond.  

Joseph’s Florida criminal arrest history includes 29 previous felony charges, 10 previous misdemeanor charges, and 19 other charges, five failure to appear charges and has been in state prison once before. He has 6 drug related charges from the state of Minnesota.  

Also arrested was 26-year-old Jonathan Alcegaire, also of Miami.  Alcegaire is charged with First Degree Murder (3 counts), Attempted First Degree Murder, Armed Burglary with Battery, Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, and Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder.  Alcegaire was arrested on January 12, 2016, and was also originally booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami.Joseph will be transported to Polk County and booked into the Polk County jail to be held on no bond.

Alcegarie’s criminal arrest history includes 8 previous felony charges, 9 previous misdemeanor charges, 10 other charges, and three failure to appear charges. 

Through their investigation, detectives learned Andrew Joseph orchestrated a Robbery and the subsequent execution-style Homicide at 2314 East Magnolia Drive, Unit #2 in unincorporated Lakeland on Wednesday, January 6, 2016.  Jonathan Alcegaire was positively identified as one of three black males who entered the residence and shot the victims.   

Detectives continue to investigate this incident and are searching for additional suspects. 

As previously reported: At approximately 6:45 am on Wednesday, January 06, 2016, the Polk County Sheriff's Office Emergency Communications Center received a call advising there had been a shooting at 2314 East Magnolia Drive, Unit #2, Lakeland. 

Patrol deputies responded initially and located three deceased victims; one Hispanic female, one white female, and one black male.  A fourth victim, a Hispanic male was shot in the face and was transported to an area hospital. 

Injured was 18-year-old Felix Campos, DOB 7/20/97.    

Deceased were identified as:

24-year-old David Washington, DOB 6/8/1991

31-year-old Eneida Branch, DOB 10/21/1984, (Washington’s girlfriend)

23-year-old Angelica Guadalupe Castro, DOB 12/22/1992   

Washington’s criminal arrest history includes six previous felony charges, eight previous misdemeanor charges, and two previous prison incarcerations. 

During a search of the residence after the shooting, detectives located illegal narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and two firearms.  Detectives also learned David Washington had made several trips to the Miami area to purchase various illegal drugs, and his most recent trip was the day before the shooting.  

Through the investigation, detectives learned three black men with Caribbean accents had arrived at the residence prior to the shooting.  Campos, the only survivor, was sleeping in a bedroom when he heard Washington talking with the three suspects.  An altercation occurred between Washington and one of the suspects.  One of the suspects entered the bedroom and shot Campos in the face. Campos told detectives he pretended to be dead and then heard multiple gunshots.   

Detectives learned a white, work-style van had been seen at the residence prior to the shooting and seen leaving the residence afterwards.  Detectives obtained a video from a local business which captured the images of a white commercial van seen in the general area at the time.  The van was described as a newer model Ford Transit Connect.   

Detectives received information about a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle traveling westbound on Memorial Boulevard near Lakeland Hills Boulevard seen the morning of the shooting.  Detectives confirmed the vehicle was a rented “U-Haul Moving and Storage” van from Dade County and contacted detectives with the Miami-Dade Police Department for assistance. 

Miami-Dade Police Department detectives learned the van had been rented by Andrew Joseph.  The van was located and impounded by MDPD, and MDPD detectives began searching for Joseph.  Polk County Sheriff’s Office Homicide detectives traveled to the Miami area to continue their investigation.   

Detectives learned Joseph rented the van at approximately 6:43 pm, on Tuesday, January 5, 2016, and returned the van at approximately 12:27 pm, on Wednesday, January 6, 2016.  In addition the van had incurred 551 miles - mileage that is consistent with the distance from the rental location to Polk County and back. 

Throughout the investigation, detectives uncovered more information about David Washington’s involvement with drug trafficking in the Miami area that included consistent contact with both Joseph and Alcegaire.   

Detectives learned three suspects, to include Alcegaire, had made several trips to the Polk County area in the days preceding the shooting.   

Subsequently, with the assistance of the MDPD, PCSO detectives located Joseph at his residence and he was taken into custody. Detectives learned Alcegaire was Joseph’s brother and had been staying at the residence. 

A search warrant for Joseph’s residence was executed on January 11, 2016, and detectives located several documents listing Joseph’s activities.  Detectives also found a Uniform Traffic Citation issued in Broward County on December 28, 2015, to 26-year-old Johnathan Alcegaire.  

Alcegaire was located at 220 NE 4th Street, Miami, and arrested.  Alcegaire admitted to detectives he had been in Polk County.  

Detectives continue to investigate and are asking for the public’s help.  Anyone with additional information regarding Joseph’s and Alcegaire’s activities and associates is urged to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863.298.6200.