The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested an individual involved in several burglary/theft incidents in Winter Haven. The arrested individual was identified as Patrick Ciszek, DOB 12/20/93.
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Sunday, December 22nd, 2024 (Case# 24-51542)
The defendant, Patrick Ciszek, went to REDACTED, Winter Haven, FL, 33884 at approximately 0700 hours. The defendant began banging the doors and windows to get the attention of REDACTED, who is a resident of the aforementioned address. REDACTED, girlfriend to REDACTED, left the residence at approximately 1030 hours to go to work and observed the defendant still outside saying he needed to talk to REDACTED. REDACTED spoke with the defendant and gave him a phone charger to leave her residence. At approximately 1345 hours, REDACTED left the residence to go to REDACTED‘s job and observed that the defendant was still in the area. When REDACTED and REDACTED arrived back at the residence at approximately 1430 hours, they observed that their front door had been kicked in causing damage, and they were missing several items throughout the house including clothes, a small white laundry basket, and a large black rolling laundry basket. REDACTED estimated the value of the damaged door and missing items to be approximately $1,500.
Tuesday, December 24th, 2024 (Case# 24-51513)
I responded to Fire Station 18 located 2101 Register Rd, Winter Haven, FL, 33884 at approximately 0900 hours in reference to a grand theft. I learned that at approximately 0740 hours, local Good Samaritans returned some Firefighter equipment that they located in the alleyway behind Just Move located at 5636 Cypress Gardens Blvd. The firefighters then went to their shed where they kept all of their emergency medical apparatus and other emergency gear, where they located several emergency medical apparatus and other gear missing.
I responded to the northeast corner of the Best Western 5801 Roosevelt Dr, Winter Haven, FL, where some of the emergency medical equipment was located, along with a black rolling laundry basket, small white laundry basket, clothing, and other miscellaneous items.
I responded to Just Move to review the camera footage and observed the following:
2207 hours the defendant is walking southbound through the alleyway while looking at the shed.
2208 hours the defendant walks into the premises of the fire station walking towards the shed
2209 hours the defendant walks back into the alleyway and then walks northbound
2210 hours the defendant walking southbound in the alleyway with equipment removed from the shed.
2213 hours the defendant walks back into the shed
2214 hours the defendant leaves the shed carrying more equipment.
I responded to Circle K, Wendy’s, Domino’s, Hungry Howie’s, and the 7 Days gas station in an attempt to identify the suspect. As I was leaving the 7 Days gas station, I observed a subject, later identified as REDACTED standing at Family Dollar located at 3082 Cypress Gardens Rd, and made a consensual encounter with her. I asked if she had seen anyone with firefighter equipment in the area or knew anyone who would steal it. REDACTED provided the name Patrick Ciszek and described him as a skinny white male with blonde hair. I showed REDACTED footage I obtained from Just Move and REDACTED positively identified Patrick Ciszek as the subject in the video and that she knew it was him since she has known him for over 20 years. REDACTED further advised that she was in the alleyway behind the Just Move at approximately 2200 hours on 12/23/2024 and observed the defendant in the area during that time. REDACTED then informed me of the incident that occurred on 12/22/2024 (case# 24-51542). REDACTED advised that the defendant is homeless but is usually in the area of the Econo Lodge located at 5665 Cypress Gardens Blvd and goes into room 207.
I responded to the Econo Lodge and spoke with the front desk worker who advised that room 207 is currently not available as it is out of order and that no one should be in the room. The hotel provided me with a key to access the room where no one was located. As I was leaving room 207, I observed the defendant leaving a room two doors down. The defendant was stopped and placed into custody. While conducting a search of the defendant, a clear pipe with a white crystalized substance was located in his front right pocket. The white crystalized substance was tested with a NARK 15 test kit, which tested for methamphetamine and yielded positive results for methamphetamine. The defendant was located with a black book bag, which had a black and yellow hi-viz jacket that had “POLK COUNTY FIRE RESCUE” in black writing on the back. Also within the black book bag were two (2) firefighter coins, which were later positively identified as belonging to firefighter Jake Marks. Contact was made with the hotel workers again, and they advised that no one should be staying in the room that the defendant was seen leaving and allowed Law Enforcement to enter. Upon entering the room, I located a radio carrier and a stethoscope, which were later positively identified as belonging to Jake Marks.
I read the defendant his Miranda Rights, which he acknowledged, understood, and agreed to speak. The defendant advised that he did steal the emergency medical equipment from Fire Station 18 and that when he went to return the items they were gone. I questioned the defendant where Jake Marks badge was at, to which he advised that he left it in a white Chevy Tahoe that belonged to “Joe” but could not provide any further information. When questioning the defendant as to why he would steal the equipment, the defendant advised that he was just mad at the world.
An FCIC/NCIC inquiry was conducted on the defendant, which yielded that the defendant was on probation for burglary.. The defendant began probation on 6/26/2023 and would be released from probation on 6/25/2025(case# B81980)
Based on the evidence and statements gathered through my investigation, I believe probable cause has been met to charge the defendant with the following violations:
810.02 Burglary of an unoccupied structure: for entering into the shed at Fire Station 18 with the intent to commit a crime within.
812.014 Grand Theft of Emergency Medical Equipment: for depriving the fire station of their emergency medical apparatus needed to respond to medical calls valued over $300
812.019 Dealing in Stolen Property: for selling the firefighter badge in return to methamphetamine
893.13 Possession of Methamphetamine
893.147 Possession go Drug Paraphernalia
948.06 Violation of Probation
810.02 Burglary of an Unoccupied Dwelling: for entering the residence of REDACTED, with the intent to commit a crime within
812.014 Grand Theft from a Dwelling over $100: for stealing clothing, laundry baskets, and other miscellaneous items through the residence.
806.13 Criminal Mischief greater than $200 and less than $1000: for kicking the door at REDACTED causing the door to crack
The defendant was transported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Processing Center without incident.
