WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A keen-eyed Polk County Sheriff’s Office sergeant led to the recovery of a stolen motorcycle and the arrest of a Winter Haven teenager just days after the bike was reported missing.
The incident began in the early morning hours of Sunday, May 18th, when a motorcycle was stolen from behind the El Rodeo Lounge on Recker Highway in Winter Haven.
The stolen motorcycle became a topic of discussion during the evening briefing for deputies in the Central District on Wednesday, May 21st. Approximately an hour-and-a-half after the briefing concluded, Sgt. Collazo spotted a man operating a motorcycle near Lake Sears that precisely matched the description of the stolen vehicle. Adding to his suspicions, the motorcycle was missing its license plate.
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Sgt. Collazo promptly initiated a traffic stop. The driver was identified as 18-year-old Logan Scott Rothwell of Winter Haven. Upon inspection, the motorcycle was confirmed to be the one stolen from behind the El Rodeo Lounge.
While the motorcycle was successfully returned to its owner, it had sustained damage to both the ignition and the gas tank.
During questioning, Rothwell initially claimed to have purchased the motorcycle through Facebook Marketplace but was unable to provide any proof of the transaction.
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He then altered his story, stating his memory was “not so good,” but he recalled walking the bike home. Rothwell also admitted to throwing the motorcycle’s license plate into the lake.
Logan Scott Rothwell was subsequently arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and faces charges of grand theft of a motorcycle and criminal mischief.
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