When I schedule a ride with the Lake Wales Police Department to observe what might happen on any average night, it turned out not to be what I expected.
I was there when, after a fairly quiet evening of proactive police patrol, a call came in just before 9:30 PM.
The following is a redacted, but unedited portion of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit (It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts provided by law enforcement. 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 Lake Wales Daily 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. A suspect is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.) :
“On 11/01/2024, at approximately 2124 hours, I, D/S Santos-Diaz #8279, responded to the intersection of Highway 60 East and Alturas Road, Bartow, FL., in reference to information given by dispatch on a vehicle that was marked in FCIC/NCIC as a vehicle being associated with a person with a warrant.
“The initial information given by dispatch was a red 2008 Saturn SUV, bearing FL license #QEE4U, possibly being driven by Leanne Keisling W/F, DOB 03/21/1973 (has an active warrant from Clay County, Indiana).
“Southeast Delta platoon members located and conducted an investigative stop on Highway 60 just west of Highway 27, and made contact with the driver.
“ I then arrived on scene and announced myself as a deputy sheriff from Polk County Sheriff’s Office, FL, and made contact with the white female driver, who identified herself as Leanne Yi Keisling. I was able to confirm his identity by an Indiana Driver’s License she provided (REDACTED).
“I then contacted CIC, who was able to confirm the Fugitive From Justice warrant is out of Clay County, Indiana for Leanne Keisling. The warrant(s) on the NCIC system was for Failure to Appear – Burglary (Case #11D01-2404-F4-000346).
“Leanne fled the jurisdiction of this agency in attempt to avoid being apprehended by law enforcement. Clay County, Indiana advised they would extradite.
“During an inventory of her vehicle prior to it being towed from the scene of the stop, a small pink metal container (eyeglasses container) was located in the rear passenger side floorboard of the vehicle. The contents of the pink container were a glass pipe with burnt substance and a white grainy residue in small baggie.
“Utilizing a NARK #15 test kit, I conducted a field test on the burnt substance inside of the glass pipe and the grainy substance, which achieved a blue color indicating the presumptive positive for the presence of methamphetamine.
“Post Miranda, Leanne stated she was not aware she had a warrant out of Indiana, as she had believed her lawyer had told her she was good until a further court date. As per the white grainy substance located in her vehicle, she informed me she had no clue it was there and she denied ever using or having any drugs in her possession.
“Leanne fled the jurisdiction of Clay County in attempt to elude being apprehended, and is a fugitive of justice, as defined in FSS 941.13, Fugitive from Justice.
“Leanne was also in possession of methamphetamine, as defined in FSS 893.13(6a), Possession of Methamphetamine, as well as, in possession of a glass pipe and containing methamphetamine, as described in FSS 893.147(1), Possession of Paraphernalia.
“I transported Leanne to the Sheriff’s Processing Center without further incident.”
As a passenger in a Lake Wales Police Department police vehicle, I was able to observe the situation as it occurred from the time we arrived at the scene.
It’s important to know that members of both Lake Wales Police Department and Polk County Sheriff’s Office were on scene.
