Lake Wales, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested one student and is continuing to investigate an incident that made students sick at Bok Academy South Thursday February 29, 2024. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office they have arrested 14 yr old Lawton Coleman (DOB:11/25/2009) charging him with a third degree felony for allegedly tampering with evidence and a misdemeanor culpable negligence.
The following is an arrest affidavit from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (It should be noted that this is an unedited, but redacted, report of facts by A law enforcement agency. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. The Daily Ridge does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to their own understanding and conclusions. Additionally, the offender in this case is a minor, but he has been charged with a felony and thus their name has been released):
“Incident Location:
Bok Academy South located at address 13901 US Highway 27, Lake Wales, Florida 33859.
Probable Cause:
On February 29, 2024, at approximately 1600 hours, on the direction of supervision, I responded to the above address in reference to investigating minor children at the above school allegedly using THC edibles.
Upon arrival, I made contact with Deputy REDACTED and learned REDACTED, REDACTED, Lawton Coleman, REDACTED, and REDACTED were possibly involved in a scheme to sell THC gummies. During this scheme, REDACTED, REDACTED, and Lawton ingested THC gummies. REDACTED and REDACTED were taken home by their biological mothers to sleep off the effects of the gummies. REDACTED and Lawton were taken to Lake Wales Advent Health Hospital for observation. Principal April Barnhardt had searched all persons and did not locate any illegal narcotics or paraphernalia.
Biological parents of REDACTED and Lawton signed Polk County Sheriff’s Office HIPPA Authorization and Medical Release Forms for their children. I recovered the medical records in reference to this incident and learned REDACTED and Lawton had THC in their system.
Video was recovered depicting Lawton, REDACTED, REDACTED, and REDACTED sitting on the floor upon raised steps. This video shows Lawton removing items from inside his pants (not pockets) and then handing those items to REDACTED. REDACTED, is then seen passing an item to REDACTED. Both person’s are seen placing items into their mouth.
I conducted a post Miranda interview on Lawton, I learned the following:
Lawton admitted to receiving six (6) gummies from REDACTED. REDACTED tells Lawton that the six (6) gummies are worth approximately $35.00 and to sell them. Lawton states that he gave two (2) gummies to REDACTED, two (2) to REDACTED whom ingested one (1) and gave one (1) to REDACTED. Lawton stated that he received $10.00 from REDACTED for the two gummies. Lawton then states that he ingested the last two (2). Shortly after ingesting the THC gummies, the kids begin to feel dizzy, sick, vomit, with REDACTED and REDACTED being picked up from the mothers and REDACTED and Lawton being taken to the hospital. Once Lawton became sick and knew the other boys also became sick he stated he believed the gummies were laced with something, due to the gummies being laced with something he made the decision to flush the clear baggie that contained the THC gummies down the toilet.
A reasonable, prudent person knows, or should have known that six (6) pieces of gummies are not worth $35.00. Lawton received the THC gummies with the purpose of selling them to make money. Lawton then hid those items inside his pants and then discretely sold those items.
(1)It is unlawful for any person, knowing that a criminal trial, proceeding, or investigation by a duly constituted prosecuting authority, law enforcement agency, grand jury, or legislative committee of this state is pending or is about to be instituted, to:
(a)Alter, destroy, conceal, or remove any record, document, or other item with the purpose to impair its verity or availability in such proceeding or investigation; or
(1)Whoever, through culpable negligence, exposes another person to personal injury commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082
Lawton Coleman observed the children he sold the THC gummies to were getting sick. Due to the knowledge of a pending investigation was going to be instituted destroyed physical evidence by flushing the clear baggie in the toilet. Lawton was placed under arrest per Florida Statutes. Due to Lawton exposing another person to personal injury was charged additionally per Florida statutes.
The Department of Children and Family REDACTED was contacted.
Lawton Coleman’s mother Kristen Boyte was advised of the situation and knows that he is being transported to the Polk County Juvenile Assessment Center.
Coleman is being charged with a third degree felony for tampering with physical evidence and a misdemeanor culpable negligence.
The incident is still under investigation and we do not know if additional charges will be added.
