News and Investigations

On Thursday, July 11, 2019, PCSO deputies arrested 15-year-old Zirus Barnes and 14-year-old Reginald Manzie, both of whom have criminal histories and are currently on probation, for committing more than a dozen vehicle burglaries and stealing three cars in the Polk City and Lakeland areas during the month of July. Their associate, 18-year-old Erik Casas-Moreno, was arrested on July 6th by Windermere P.D. driving one of the stolen vehicles.

"Here are more poster children who prove that slapping prolific criminals on the wrist doesn't work - it just enables them to commit more crimes unfettered. These aren't 'kids behaving badly' - they are thieves. They need to spend more time behind bars and in meaningful programs that can hopefully change these kids, and less time out on the streets." - Grady Judd, Sheriff 

On July 2, 2019, multiple car burglaries in the Fountain Park subdivision in Polk City were reported. A video showing one burglary is currently posted on the PCSO Facebook page.

On July 4, 2019, a vehicle on Old Polk City Road in Lakeland was burglarized, and a Jeep Comanche was stolen.

On July 6, 2019, PCSO responded to a burglary-in-progress on Kinsman Way in Lakeland. The victim was alerted to the presence of the suspects pulling on his car door handles - he scared them off. Detectives recovered video from that scene, and observed that the suspects were wearing the same clothes from the July 4th Old Polk City Road crimes.

While deputies were still at that scene, PCSO received a call in reference to a vehicle theft on Old Kinsman Way. The suspects had burglarized an unlocked car that had a key inside of it to a Chevy Malibu. They stole the Malibu and fled.

On July 7th, two vehicle burglaries were reported on Ridgegreen Drive in Lakeland; on July 8th, a Chevy Silverado was reported stolen from Ridgegreen Loop North.

During the same time frame, Windermere Police arrested Erik Casas-Moreno for grand theft of a motor vehicle - he was in the stolen Jeep. He told detectives that he purchased the Jeep from Barnes and Manzie on July 4th. Detectives learned the pair was staying at a residence on Old Polk City Road. They responded to the home, and the suspects attempted to flee out of the back door. They were quickly apprehended. The stolen Chevy Silverado was parked in the side yard.

Manzie admitted to stealing both the Jeep and the Chevy truck, and that he sold the Jeep to Moreno. He also said the truck had a gun in it, and that he sold it to someone else.

Manzie's criminal history includes 27 previous and current charges: 8 felonies, 11 misdemeanors, and 8 other charges such as VOP. For this most recent crime spree he has so far been charged with:
• 2 counts grand theft motor vehicle
• 1 count grand theft of a firearm
• 3 counts burglary
• 2 counts dealing in stolen property
• 1 count petit theft
• 1 count resisting arrest
• 1 count VOP
• 1 out-of-county warrant for juvenile justice absconder 
More charges are pending the completion of these investigations.

Barnes' criminal history includes 20 previous and current charges: 11 felonies, 5 misdemeanors, and 4 other charges such as VOP. For this most recent crime spree he has so far been charged with:
• 2 counts grand theft motor vehicle
• 1 count grand theft of a firearm
• 2 counts burglary
• 2 counts dealing in stolen property
• 1 count resisting arrest
• 1 out-of-county warrant for juvenile justice absconder 
More charges are pending the completion of these investigations.

Casas-Moreno's criminal history includes 24 previous and current charges: 5 felonies, 12 misdemeanors, and 7 other charges such as VOP. He was charged by Windermere PD with:
• 1 count display of firearm during a felony
• 1 count grand theft motor vehicle
• 1 count resisting arrest
• 1 count VOP

The total crimes committed by Barnes and Manzie are:

• 14 vehicle burglaries in Polk City (Ashland Ave, Claremont Ct, Conway Rd, Hinsdale Heights Dr, Rindge Rd, Sunapee Loop)
• 3 vehicle burglaries in Lakeland (Old Polk City Rd, Ridgegreen Dr)
• 3 vehicle thefts in Lakeland (Kinsman Way, Ridgegreen Loop N, Spruce Rd W)