Polk County Sheriff’s Office-
It started Sunday evening, August 18th at around 8pm at Winston Baptist Church at 3233 Old Tampa Highway in Lakeland.
The 23-year old victim was selling her iPhone via Facebook Marketplace. She agreed to meet up with a buyer at the church to complete the transaction.
The “buyer” was later identified as 18-year old Tyshawn Cole of Bartow.
Tyshawn arrived at the church in a white 2005 Lincoln. The car was driven by 19-year old Tanarius Manning of Bartow, and the front seat passenger was 20-year old Victoria Heruska of Bartow.
As the victim met with the trio in the Lincoln, Heruska snatched the iPhone from the victim, and the vehicle fled.
Dispatchers immediately relayed the vehicle and suspect information to other PCSO units and city departments.
At about 8:46pm, Bartow PD officers located the Lincoln and conducted a traffic stop at the FDOT building (801 North Broadway Avenue), and all three suspects were taken into custody without incident.
All three suspects were arrested by the PCSO and taken to the Polk County Jail where they were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery.
Heruska was also charged with robbery by sudden snatching.
Cole was additionally charged with use of a communication device to commit a felony and violation of probation (domestic battery).
The phone was returned to the victim.
This would also be a good time to remind everyone that the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has 12 Safe Zones for child custody exchanges and e-commerce transactions across the county. The Safe Zones have 24/7 video surveillance & recording and lighting. The PCSO Safe Zones are at each one of the PCSO District Offices, PCSO city offices (Ft Meade, Dundee, Polk City, Mulberry, and Frostproof, and Central County Jail and South County Jail.
