POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A recent string of vandalism in northern Frostproof has culminated in an arrest, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced today. The incidents, which included graffiti and property damage across a concentrated area, prompted a swift investigation by local detectives.
The initial wave of vandalism occurred on June 12th, impacting several locations within a concentrated area. Victims reported graffiti scrawled on doors at a storage facility, red spray paint defacing a fence, stop sign, and street sign at the intersection of Roberts Lane and Bay Street.
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Additionally, derogatory graffiti targeted a private property, and three tires were slashed or damaged on another.
Just over a week later, on June 23rd, another act of vandalism was reported in the same northern Frostproof neighborhood. In this incident, a derogatory phrase was spray-painted on the entrance gate of a shared private driveway, further unsettling residents.
Detectives quickly launched an investigation, their efforts leading them to develop a suspect. Following leads, officers visited the suspect’s residence, where a relative granted them permission to conduct a search. During the search, detectives recovered crucial evidence that directly linked the suspect to the string of crimes. Notably, all the incidents occurred within a mere one-block radius of the suspect’s home.
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The investigative work culminated in the location and arrest of 20-year-old Leonel Bocanegra. He was taken into custody by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the Polk County Jail.
Bocanegra faces charges including Criminal Mischief between $200-$1000, and three counts of Criminal Mischief Less than $200.
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