WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A homeless Winter Haven woman has been arrested after crashing a stolen motorcycle and jumping in a lake in an attempt to elude police.
On Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, at approximately 12:08 p.m., a citizen flagged down a Winter Haven officer on Lake Howard Dr. NW. The citizen told the officer he witnessed someone fall off of a green motorcycle and limp off to a residence just up from the crash scene. The witness then saw the injured driver walk to a vehicle and get inside, but quickly exited.
31-year-old Olivia Michelle Ramsey was located after she took off some of her clothing and the book bag she was carrying and jumped into Lake Howard. Ramsey had been traveling in the area of 17th St on Lake Howard Dr. on the stolen motorcycle when she fell off and injured her leg. Investigators say the motorcycle was stolen out of Lakeland.
Another witness in the area confirmed that Ramsey was the driver of the motorcycle and that she had attempted to get a ride to the hospital, but the citizen refused and told Ramsey to get out of the car. That’s when Ramsey decided hiding in the lake was her best option.
Officers found Ramsey in the lake, but she refused to come out. Ramsey’s book bag was located in the area and it contained three syringes filled with a liquid substance later identified as Methamphetamine.
Ramsey ultimately was retrieved from the lake and taken to Winter Haven Health, to receive treatment for her leg, before being booked into the Polk County Jail.
Ramsey is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine (F3), Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle (F3), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M2) and Driving with License Suspended or Revoked (M2).
Police say Ramsey also had a warrant for her arrest for Failure to Appear for Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Fleeing to Elude, and Leaving the Scene of a Crash.