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published: Monday, August 20, 2012

Traffic stop leads to three arrests

News-Sun

SEBRING -- A traffic stop Thursday night in Sebring resulted in the recovery of a stolen car and three arrests, one of them after a K-9 pursuit through the Highlands Homes neighborhood.

According to a press release from the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, Lt. Sean Casey observed a black Dodge Magnum traveling slowly south on U.S. 27 near Golfview Road in the early morning hours of Thursday. He checked the license number on the vehicle and discovered it was reported stolen out of Hillsborough County.

After calling for back-up units and following the vehicle through the Highlands Homes neighborhood, a felony stop was conducted at 4614 Howard Ave. at 3:50 a.m. One subject fled into a wooded area when the vehicle stopped, but three other subjects were taken out of the vehicle and detained.

After all subjects were secure, HCSO K-9 deputies Dustin McGee and Tom Fort began to track the subject who ran. After a long track through the neighborhood, an orange grove and the woods, 30-year-old Anthony Wayne Chandler was located near the entrance of the Las Villas subdivision. Chandler, of 4580 Sullivan Rd. in Winter Haven, was arrested and charged with trespassing, possession of marijuana, resisting an officer and possession of drug equipment.

Later that day, follow up investigation by Sebring Police Department detectives determined that Chandler discarded a purse containing a significant amount of cash during his flight from deputies. Sebring police K-9 Officer John Garrison arrived in the area of the chase, and around 1 p.m. his K-9 partner J.R. located the purse hanging on a tree in the area where Chandler was apprehended.

Of the three subjects originally detained, two were arrested at the scene. Chalmas Henry Bishop, 49, of 122 Twin Lake Blvd. in Lake Wales, was charged with driving while license suspended and grand theft of a motor vehicle. He remains in the Highlands County Jail under a $17,000 bond.

Amanda Faye Metzgar, 22, of 2449 SW Ave. A in Winter Haven, was arrested on a warrant out of Polk County and has been transferred to the Polk County Jail. The third subject was released at the scene.

Additional charges may be developed in this case as the vehicle involved matches the description of a vehicle that was used in a burglary that occurred on Aug. 15 in Lake Placid. All these cases remain under investigation at this time.

"This is just another great example of how our agencies work together for the common good of the citizens of Highlands County," Sebring Police Chief Tom Dettman said. "The heads-up action initiated by Lt. Casey with back up by Highlands County sheriff's members and Sebring police officers, and additional follow up by detectives from both agencies, resulted in the arrests of three suspects and numerous charges. Following established procedures also ensured that everyone went home safely as well, which is what we always want to see."

Sheriff Susan Benton commended all involved for their outstanding teamwork.

"Congratulations to everyone involved and this shows again how important attentiveness to traffic enforcement results in successful case work. The officers and deputies conducted the traffic stop by the book and as things escalated, additional resources were called in to increase the probability of capture. Our citizens can be proud once again of the law enforcement preparedness in our county."

The cases remain open at this time. Anyone with information on these cases is requested to call either the HCSO Criminal Investigations Unit at 863-260-0106 and speak with Det. Mike Huften or the Sebring Police Department at 471-5107 and speak with Det. Lucretia Milbrecht.

Anyone with information who wants to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477), or visit www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com/. Anonymity is guaranteed